Reaction: $80 Game Prices Are Ridiculous, Adding Even More Value To Xbox Game Pass

Well, it happened - Microsoft has announced that a bunch of its Xbox products are going up in price, starting today. These latest price hikes are largely down to recent trade tariffs being sparked by the US government, and include the likes of Xbox Series X and S console prices increasing by up to $100. However, it's game price hikes that are perhaps the most concerning in the long run - Microsoft has announced that it'll be breaking that $80 barrier for its AAA titles.

Speaking personally here, I found Microsoft's bump to $70 tough to take just a few years ago. I know, the rate of inflation has outpaced game prices for years now - but we live in a time where the outright cost of a game isn't the end of its monetisation. Between special editions, DLC and now early access incentives, game publishers are making their money one way or another.

And now, we're moving into a time where another $10 is being added to top-end game prices, in quite quick succession from the industry's last game price hike. Sure, Nintendo is doing the same with Switch 2, and sure, major reasons for this price hike are likely beyond Microsoft's control - but that doesn't mean it still doesn't sting. In a tough economic climate for many of us, $80 game prices are ridiculous quite frankly.

Reaction: $80 Game Prices Are Ridiculous, Adding Even More Value To Xbox Game Pass

In fact, if it wasn't for this job — and services like Xbox Game Pass — I'd have probably dropped out of buying day one video games a while ago now, to be quite honest. There are so many games available these days that spending $80 on new releases feels more and more like a poor financial decision; the backlog is always there, ready to be tackled after all. Or, you could subscribe to something like Game Pass Ultimate and play all of these Xbox games at one low monthly price.

Putting my jokey PR line about Xbox Game Pass aside, subscriptions like this are just starting to make more and more sense to me. I too like to own my games, even physical ones for my most anticipated releases, but it's simply becoming unaffordable to do that very often these days. Compared to equivalent monthly subscription services from other providers, Game Pass Ultimate is incredible value - and it's now delivering on both quantity and quality as well. For Xbox fans, it really is a no-brainer to use the service in 2025.

Do you agree with me on this topic? Talk to us about this new future for game prices down below.