If you are worried or confused, how much will you have soon Spend on goods – – Especially technology – you are not alone.
After the Trump administration’s tariffs (first “Mutual tariffs” pauseThen Exemptions for certain technologiesand go back and say exemption), you are not the only one trying to keep up with the whip.
But if you are a gamer, there is an unfortunate truth about the harshness of the news: You want to pay more for your hobby regardless of the tariff situation.
Nintendo Announce Switch 2 At the beginning of this month, some of its games were priced higher than what people are used to: the number is $80 and the physical price is $90. But should the price increase really be unexpected?
Like most gamers, these price tags aren’t very excited. But, nearly two decades ago, I paid $50 for the PlayStation 1 and 2 matches. The price of contemporary games is about $70. In 20 years, this has only added $20. Which other technology products have this price stagnation?
Tariffs may increase hardware costs, but the game itself may not have a direct impact. But that doesn’t mean the price hasn’t risen.
Brad Hendricks, CEO of Blind Squirrel Entertainment Inc., told me he wants people to realize that developers and publishers are not raising prices in an attempt to deprive consumers. “It’s great to have a $60 price for 10 or 15 years, but the reality is that everything is going up,” he said.
Blind Squirrel Games is the recording studio of Bioshock: the series and received honors in major games such as God of War, Declaration and New World in 2018.
Your game may soon cost more, and there are many reasons. Let’s get into it.
Tariffs and Video Games: What happened?
I know the problem with every gamer is Trump’s tariffs Does that mean I will spend more money on the game soon? ”Well, yes, no.
Hendrix said the tariffs “of course affect the hardware.” “So, Nintendo will have to raise the price, which is my guess. That’s true for Xbox and PlayStation, as well as PCs or other hardware-related things.”
So if the 145% tariff in China (mainly Xboxes are mainly made) still exists, you will end up paying more for these products.
but Nintendo Mobile Switch Console Production From China to Vietnam in 2019. And, since mutual tariffs have been suspended in all countries except China, you may not see Significant rise in US Switch 2 prices – At least during the 90-day suspension. This may be why Nintendo chooses to put its new console on hold in the United States and China.
As for physics games, they are everywhere:
- Most were made in Mexico, hitting a 25% tariff earlier this year.
- The PlayStation 5 game is made in AustriaThis is part of the EU, with a benchmark tariff of only 10% for at least temporarily.
- Nintendo games are mainly made in China, so Switch 2 game price It may be severely affected by tariffs.
Digital games will not import any physical components from other countries and will not be affected by tariffs.
But Hendricks said the tariffs were not shocked by the news that Nintendo games were more expensive. He believes that comprehensive games need to see price increases in order to calculate higher development costs.
“Before the entire tariff discussion broke out, there was a lot of talk in the industry: When did publishers start pushing the needle forward?” he said.
Now, a new AAA game costs $70 before tax. Hendricks said that if gamers want to see the realistic graphics, innovative features and gameplay they expect, they will need to be willing to express their support with their wallet.
This may not be what you want to hear, but the price of the game may need to rise
When the Switch 2 was announced at a higher-than-expected price – the price of the game combines physical and digital switches is higher Paid drill Switch function – People react negative reactions. It is understandable.
No one wants to hear that they have to pop up more for their favorite pastime. continue Fear of inflation and recession Let us be a little wary, the tariffs were sent back and forth Stock market.
Most importantly, the federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009, when it was hit to $7.25 — not enough to enjoy during these tough times, let alone disposable income can be spent on the game. So if you are asked to pay more for the game, that makes sense.
But at the same time, the cost everything for Everyone Rising. Including game developers.
There are three main types of games:
- Indie games are independent or group efforts made by developers who make modest ranges that are published only on numbers and may be minimally affected by tariffs.
- AA (Double A) games, usually produced by small studios with medium budgets.
- AAA (Triple A) Games are released by your Ubisofts and Activisions – Huge studio with budget-friendly.
Game development is not a cheap industry.
Hendricks said the low end could be between $20 million and $60 million when developing triple games, excluding marketing and other products. “So if you have a $100 million budget, it usually costs – [distribution]marketing and everything else – probably close to $200 million. ”
Hendricks said he was a developer, not a publisher, so he didn’t have all the information. But what he has had is more than 30 years of experience working in the industry, unique insights into making games and leading studios, including recruiting talent.
Creating a video game requires a group of artists, programmers, sound designers, quality inspection testers, writers, actors, and more. Maintaining these teams in the United States is becoming increasingly expensive.
“I think consumers’ minds need to change,” Hendrix said. “Because some of the best developers in the world are struggling right now.”
Video game publishers set the price of the game, but Hendricks said they were reluctant to raise the price due to fears of a rebound. The reality, though, is that if gamers want to continue experiencing groundbreaking innovative stories, they will have to be prepared to support production studios.
So, when will the game price rise?
No other publisher has announced price increases except Nintendo. But that’s likely to change once Grand Theft Auto 6 appears.
“Everyone is holding his breath now: ‘What will GTA do?'” Hendrix said. Rockstar Games, the developer of the title, “little is there to lose because everyone buys it regardless of the cost.”
Released in September 2013, GTA 5 is one of the best-selling video games of all time. As of February 2025, it has sold 210 million copies. According to Statista.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 expected to be released on June 5, and the GTA 6 is scheduled to be held this fall, so the full-game price will soon be available after these two major releases.
Hendricks said that if Rockstar costs $129, $179 or even $200 (as expected), it would pave the way for other publishers to do the same.
How can you become a gamer in 2025 and beyond?
A hobby budget isn’t always the easiest thing, especially if you like something as expensive as a game. I know I will still buy games even if they go up. Heck, I might pick up the GTA 6 at some point – not $200 anyway.
If anything, the price increase will make me more interested in the game I buy. Once it appears, I won’t be able to buy all the main titles right away, but when I have money to burn, I pick up the game. Try these tips to afford the upcoming game.
Use your credit card point
For now, I tend to use credit card points to reduce the cost of the game, and to buy the latest games, I will never fall into credit card debt. For example, I pay with my card reward Assassin’s Creed: Shadow,,,,, Avoid Kingdom Come to Save 2.
Each title is released at $70, so saving points took me a lot of time, but it was worth it. Knowing the game you want to buy can make the plan easier.
I use Blue CashPreferred® Card for American Express For necessary expenses such as natural gas and groceries, Chase Sapphire Priority® Card*For catering and travel purchases, Wells Fargo Active® Card*Everything else. If I wanted a game where I couldn’t earn points, I would slow down dining out and other rash spending to make room.
Again, you should never be involved in credit card debt to get the latest game. But if you use them carefully, they are good financial tools. For example, some credit card features 0% introductory purchase offer A few months. This means that your new purchase will not accumulate interest within a certain amount of time. In that window, you can repay the balance without adding any larger balance.
Consider buying now and paying later
Buy now, pay later Plans usually allow you to divide a payment into four months, spreading for one month, but be aware that plans vary.
“Buy now, the plan to pay later can take risks – missed payments can trigger high fees or impact your credibility. So read the beautiful print and weigh if the item is really worth it.”
She added that people fund all kinds of expensive things that can bring joy. So if video games do this for you, you won’t be ashamed to use financial tools to support your hobbies. “The key is mindfulness,” she said.
Include it in your budget
Knowing that the game you want to spend money is coming will help you prepare for your expenses. Consider starting Sunken Fund – A separate savings account where you add funds to fund your games or other hobbies. Your fund can be High yield savings account.
However, sometimes it is recommended to just not buy. If you don’t have a Emergency Fund To pay unexpected fees, you should stop before making expensive purchases, such as games or consoles.
Buy a used or refurbished
Save games by buying used used cars or trading in old consoles and games. You spend a lot of money at a lower price, which may not make people feel good for a deal, but it can help you lower costs if they sit while collecting dust.
I also try not to sweep in FOMO. The three games I saved easily exceeded 60 to 70 hours of content. Once I’ve done this, I’ll consider picking the next title in my list – this is most likely Doom: The Dark Ages After arriving next month. I’ve started to aggregate points to make the cost less.
*All information about Chase Sapphire Preferred, Wells Fargo’s cash card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
