EA Defies Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

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

Wilson elaborated on the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting a shift away from traditional retail sales of "shiny discs in plastic boxes" to a more diverse pricing strategy that spans from free-to-play to deluxe editions. "At the end of the day, whether we're doing something that costs a dollar, or we're doing something that costs $10, or we're doing something that costs $100, our objective is always to deliver incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase," Wilson stated. He emphasized that by combining quality and value, EA's business remains robust and continues to grow.

CFO Stuart Canfield reinforced this stance, stating that EA's current pricing strategy remains unchanged. This news comes as a relief to gamers, especially following Microsoft's recent announcement of price increases for Xbox consoles, accessories, and some games. Microsoft's new pricing for first-party games is expected to reach $79.99 during the holiday season.

This decision by EA stands in contrast to the broader trend in the AAA gaming industry, where prices have escalated from $60 to $70 over the last five years. Nintendo has also announced $80 price tags 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 been met with criticism from fans but acknowledged as inevitable amid current economic conditions by analysts.

Given EA's stance, fans can expect the next iterations of EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield to maintain the $70 standard edition pricing. This announcement comes in the wake of EA cutting around 100 jobs at Apex Legend developer Respawn Entertainment and making broader cuts across its organization, affecting approximately 300 individuals in total.