Video Games Are About to Cost $100 and We’re Just Going to Let It Happen, Aren’t We?

It's coming. You may not like it, I certainly don't like it, but the $100 video game era is nearly upon us. And we're probably going to just... let it happen.

For a while now, game publishers have been floating trial balloons—deluxe editions, early access packs, pre-order bonuses, expansion passes, "digital ultimate gold pre-order bonus editions" that somehow cost $89.99—and we've been nibbling at them like good little consumers. But now, it's not about fluff. It's about the base game. The core experience. And it's going to cost you.

Here's the moment that made it real: during the recent Nintendo Direct, quietly nestled between Switch 2 hype and new game trailers, we found out that Switch 2 games will retail for $80 digitally and $90 for physical copies. That's not a typo. And just in case you thought this was a fluke, let's talk about GTA 6—rumored to launch at $100. Not for a special edition. Not bundled with in-game currency. Just. The. Game.

Sound familiar? It's the iPhone all over again. I still remember when Apple first dared to cross the $1,000 line. We collectively screamed "No way!"—and then every single flagship phone followed suit. Now, anything under $1,000 seems like a deal. Gaming is about to follow the same path.

To be fair, games are expensive to make. We want breathtaking visuals, massive open worlds, cinematic voice acting, orchestral scores, multiplayer that works, endless updates—and we want it all for the same $60 we were paying during the PlayStation 2 era. Studios have been complaining about this for years. It's unsustainable.

But also… $100? That's a lot. That's groceries for the week. That's a utility bill. And this is just for one game. That doesn't include DLC, expansions, or microtransactions. And if you think we're going to stand our ground and boycott, let's be honest—are you really not going to buy the next Zelda? Or GTA 6? Or the next Elden Ring fromSoft masterpiece?

Publishers know this. They're counting on it. That's why the floodgates are opening now.

So what's the alternative? Subscription services like Game Pass or PlayStation Plus? Sure, they help, but not every publisher wants to play ball with those. Live-service games with microtransactions? Players are already fed up with that model. We want to own full games, but we don't want to pay more. It's a paradox.

Look, I'm not saying developers don't deserve to be paid for their work. They absolutely do. But I also don't know how we're supposed to normalize paying $100 per game without losing a chunk of our gaming community in the process.

All I know is: the era of $60 games is behind us. The $70 game was the warning shot. And $100 is the new normal.

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