In a reassuring move for gamers, EA has officially stated it will not be increasing the prices of its games, despite major competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo opting for $80 price tags. During a recent financial call with investors, EA's CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the company's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value" for its player base, citing the success of the co-op adventure Split Fiction, which has now sold an impressive 4 million copies.
Wilson highlighted the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting a shift from primarily selling physical copies to a more 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," he explained. He further elaborated that regardless of the price point, whether it's a dollar, ten dollars, or a hundred dollars, EA's focus remains on delivering exceptional quality and value, which has proven to be a successful formula for the company's growth and resilience.
CFO Stuart Canfield reinforced this stance, indicating that EA's current pricing strategy remains unchanged. This news will likely be welcomed by gamers, especially following Microsoft's recent announcement of price increases for Xbox consoles, accessories, and select games, with new first-party titles expected to cost $79.99 during the upcoming holiday season.
The decision comes amidst a broader trend in the AAA gaming industry, where prices have escalated from $60 to $70 over the last five years, and Nintendo has set a $80 price for upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 Edition games. The Switch 2's launch price of $450 has also sparked debate, though analysts suggest such pricing is inevitable amid current economic conditions.
Given EA's firm stance on pricing, fans can anticipate that future releases like EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield will maintain the $70 standard edition pricing. However, this announcement comes in the wake of EA cutting around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, alongside broader layoffs affecting approximately 300 individuals across the organization, as reported by IGN last week.
