Shocking Revelation: Capcom President Believes Video Game Prices Are Dirt Cheap!

Highlights

Capcom President believes that video game prices should be higher due to rising production costs and demands for higher-quality titles.

AAA games are currently priced between $50 and $70, with a growing trend towards even higher prices for early access editions. In a recent interview, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, President and Chief Operating Officer of Capcom, expressed the belief that video game prices should be significantly higher than their current market level. This is due to the increasing production costs, especially as AAA games continue to require more scale and graphical demand. As the industry looks for ways to reduce these rising costs, publishers like Capcom suggest that a higher price tag for games may be the solution.

While the issue of game pricing has always been a topic of debate, the gaming industry continues to face the challenge of meeting the demand for high-quality titles. Presently, a typical AAA game is priced between $50 and $70, with some publishers asking for an even higher amount for early access. This trend is not limited to new titles only, as games such as the recent Nintendo Switch and PS4 ports of the 2010 Red Dead Redemption are priced at $49.99. It is unlikely that this trend will change in the near future.

At the recently concluded Tokyo Game Show, Capcom's President, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, expressed his personal belief that game prices are too low. He noted that "development costs are about 100 times higher than during the Famicom era, but software prices have not increased significantly." Tsujimoto emphasized the need to increase wages in the industry and raised the idea that higher game prices would be a beneficial business strategy. Although Tsujimoto did not provide a specific price point, games are already being priced at $70 or more, particularly when considering early access editions.

Regarding recent rumors about Microsoft possibly acquiring Capcom, Tsujimoto mentioned that the company would politely decline any acquisition proposal from the Xbox maker. He also added that Capcom prefers to achieve growth through its own efforts, and that Microsoft would be better suited as an equal partner. This inquiry arises as the tech giant aims to finalize its Activision Blizzard deal and in light of Microsoft's past acquisition ambitions.

Capcom has achieved remarkable financial success in recent years. In 2022, they had their most successful year to date, selling 41.7 million games, breaking their previous record for the sixth year in a row. This achievement can be largely attributed to the popularity of older titles such as Monster Hunter Rise (3.7 million units), Resident Evil 2 (2.25 million), and Resident Evil 3 (1.95 million). It remains to be seen how Capcom's stance on game pricing will impact the gaming industry in the future.