EA Defies Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call addressing investors, EA CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed that the company has no plans to increase game prices, despite competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo moving towards $80 price points. Wilson emphasized EA's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value" to its playerbase, highlighting the success of their co-op adventure game Split Fiction, which has sold 4 million copies.

Wilson elaborated on the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting the shift from primarily selling physical copies to a broader range of pricing strategies, from free-to-play to deluxe editions. He stressed that EA's objective is to ensure that, regardless of price—whether it's $1, $10, or $100—the focus remains on delivering top-notch quality and value. This approach, Wilson noted, has proven to be effective in maintaining a strong, resilient, and growing business.

EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, reinforced this stance by stating that there are no changes reflected in their current pricing strategy. This decision comes at a time when the gaming industry is witnessing a trend of price increases, with Microsoft recently announcing price hikes for Xbox consoles, accessories, and some first-party games, which are set to reach $79.99 around the holiday season.

The broader AAA gaming sector has seen a shift from $60 to $70 game prices over the last five years, and Nintendo is set to launch the Switch 2 at $450, alongside $80 games like the upcoming Switch 2 exclusive Mario Kart World. Despite these industry trends, EA's decision to maintain current pricing is seen as a response to the current economic climate, which analysts have acknowledged as challenging.

Given EA's stance, fans can anticipate that upcoming titles such as the next EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield games will continue to adhere to the $70 standard edition pricing.

On another note, last week, IGN reported that EA made significant layoffs, cutting around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment and impacting approximately 300 individuals across the organization.