The gaming world’s traditional cycles have been disrupted recently. While prices typically drop towards the end of a new console generation, prices for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S have increased. The Xbox Series X, which launched for $500 in November 2020, has now reached $600, while the PlayStation 5, which launched at $500, has now reached $550.

Gaming has become expensive

This situation stems from both global inflation and tariffs. These consoles are likely to be priced higher than they were at their initial launch.

This rise isn’t limited to consoles; PC hardware is also exhibiting a similar pattern. Prices for graphics cards, in particular, aren’t decreasing over time as they once were; instead, they remain at the same price, with occasional increases. While there has been a partial recovery in recent months, we’re still far from pre-2020 levels.

Parallel to this rise in hardware prices, game prices have also risen. Prices for AAA games have reached $80. Nintendo took the first step in this direction by lowering game prices to $80. With the release of GTA 6 next year, other major studios are expected to follow suit.

All of these developments are making gaming more expensive than ever. A few years ago, gamers who paid $560 for a new console and a AAA game are now paying $680. These figures are expected to rise even further with the release of next-generation consoles.

This cost increase is driving players away from AAA games and toward indie titles on platforms like Steam. This demonstrates that rising costs are becoming a concern not only for gamers but also for major game studios.