However, should a price increase truly be unexpected?

Like most gamers, I wasn’t exactly thrilled by those price tags.

But I was paying $50 for PlayStation 1 and 2 games nearly two decades ago.

Current generation games cost about $70.

That’s only a $20 increase over 20 years.

What other tech product has had that kind of price stagnation?

Tariffs will likely increase the hardware costs, but the games themselves might not be directly affected.

But that doesn’t mean prices aren’t going up.

There are a lot of reasons why your games might soon cost you more.

Let’s get into it.

Tariffs and video games: What’s going on?

Well, yes and no.

Tariffs “will affect hardware, for sure,” Hendricks said.

“So Nintendo will have to raise the price point, is my guess.

ButNintendo moved Switch console productionfrom China to Vietnam in 2019.

This may be whyNintendo opted to put preorders for its new console on holdin the US and China.

He thinks games across the board need to see a price increase to account for higher development costs.

Right now a new AAA game costs $70 before tax.

No one wants to hear they’ll have to shell out more for their favorite pastime.

So, if being asked to pay more for games upsets you, it makes sense.

Yet at the same time, the cost ofeverythingforeveryoneis going up.

There are three primary types of games:

Game development isn’t exactly an inexpensive industry.

Hendricks said he’s a developer, not a publisher, so he doesn’t have all the information.

Maintaining these teams in the US is getting more expensive.

“I think there needs to be a shift in consumer minds,” Hendricks said.

“Because some of the best developers in the world right now are struggling.”

So when are game prices likely to increase?

Aside from Nintendo, no other publisher has announced a price increase.

But that’s likely going to change once Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out.

“Everybody is holding their breath right now: ‘What is GTA going to do?'”

GTA 5, released in September 2013, is one of the best-selling video games of all time.

As of February 2025, it’s sold 210 million copies,according to Statista.

How can you afford to be a gamer in 2025 and beyond?

I know I’ll still be buying games even if they go up.

If anything, a price hike will make me more intentional about the games I do purchase.

Knowing what games you want to buy makes it easier to plan ahead for the expense.

I also try not to get swept up in FOMO.

The three games above are easily over 60 to 70 hours of content.