EA Defies Industry Norms: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call, EA (Electronic Arts) has firmly stated that it will not be following the trend set by competitors such as Microsoft and Nintendo by increasing the price of its games. CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the company's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value" to its player base, citing the success of their co-op adventure Split Fiction, which has sold an impressive 4 million copies.

Wilson highlighted the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting the shift from primarily selling physical copies in retail stores to a diverse pricing strategy that ranges from free-to-play options to deluxe editions. "In a world where everything we did 10 years ago was about selling shiny discs in plastic boxes on retail shelves — well, that’s still a part of our business, but it’s a significantly smaller part," Wilson stated. He further elaborated that EA's approach is to ensure that whether a product costs a dollar, ten dollars, or a hundred dollars, the focus remains on delivering exceptional quality and value, which has proven to strengthen and grow their business.

CFO Stuart Canfield reinforced this stance by confirming that there are no plans to alter the current pricing strategy. This news arrives at a time when Microsoft announced an increase in Xbox prices, including consoles, controllers, headsets, and some games. While current Xbox game prices remain unchanged, new first-party titles are expected to cost $79.99 during the upcoming holiday season.

The gaming industry has witnessed a general trend of price increases, with AAA game prices rising from $60 to $70 in the last five years. Nintendo has also announced $80 price points for upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 Edition games. The Switch 2 itself will launch at $450, a move that has sparked criticism from fans, though analysts have noted that such pricing may be inevitable given current economic conditions.

Given EA's stance, fans can anticipate that upcoming titles such as EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield will maintain the standard $70 price point. This decision comes amid broader organizational changes at EA, with IGN reporting that EA cut around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, alongside wider cuts affecting approximately 300 individuals across the company.