With the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct done and dusted, there’s plenty to be excited about, but the thrill ofMario Kart World’s release announcement makes me worried aboutGrand Theft Auto 6’s upcoming release. Mario Kart World will be coming out with the Switch 2 on June 5th, but it comes with a price tag that breaks tradition. With rumors swirling about a potentially high price point forGTA 6, this new step-up makes it hard to have faith that Rockstar’s next big game will be as affordable as I’d like.
The price of games is always fluctuating based on any number of factors, from the economy of the purchasing player’s home country to the compensation the devs negotiate for with their studios, With newAmerican tariffs making games more expensive, American players (and likely many others in the West) are feeling this acutely. Mario Kart World is set to be priced at $80, which I would argue is just too high.
Mario Kart World Breaks The $70 Standard
As Nintendo Does, So Too Will The Rest Follow
While Nintendo didn’t mention the price point ofMario Kart Worldin the Switch 2 Direct, a $79.99 MSRP is visible on the officialNintendowebsite.With this change,Nintendo breaks the tacitly-agreed-upon upper limit for game prices that was previously set at $70, setting a new standard for other game studios.
Every Mario Kart World Course Confirmed (So Far)
We just got our first extended look at Mario Kart World, some of the new courses in the game, and some old favorites that have been fully remade.
As a kid, I remember taking my $40 in cash, most of it in quarters that my grandma gave me, to GameStop to buy my very own copy ofPokémon HeartGold, which was released in the US when I was nine years old. Now, that same game would cost about $60 accounting for inflation. Home console games are a different story, as they’ve stayed behind the inflation curve compared to some points in history, but no major release beforeMario Kart Worldhas cost $80.
Mario Kart Worldwill also be available in a bundle with the Switch 2, which will retail for $499 as opposed tothe Switch 2’s $449 price.
There’s something to be said about how games getting more complex helps justify the price increase, taking more devs, more QA, and more time to produce. Nonetheless, it’s a worrying trend in an industry where, in an interview withGamesIndustry,a major studio director has said players need to get used to not owning their games.Nintendo’s company approach is less likely to adopt this mindset, especially considering the introduction of GameShare as a way to make playing games more widely accessible, but it doesn’t seem to be above asking more from fans in other areas.
GTA 6 Price Rumors Might Be A Real Threat
Now That Nintendo Has Opened The Floodgates, Rockstar Games Might Be Swept In The Current
Most game studios have been setting their big-ticket releases at $70 for the past couple of years, but now that Nintendo has broken the seal on $80 mainline games, a $100 price tag onGTA 6is more likely than it previously seemed.The game is inarguably the most widely anticipated title of the year,and Rockstar can almost get away with a lot in terms of price and release window.
GTA 6’s Marketing Strategy Is Frustrating, But It Actually Makes Sense
With no new information on GTA 6 since December 2023, frustration is rampant, but new comments by Take-Two’s CEO put it in a new light.
In almost any circumstance,GTA 6is going to be a hit. With Nintendo pushing the envelope closer and closer to that $100 mark, seeing that sort of price onGTA 6wouldn’t even surprise me, even if there’s been room forskepticism about this rumor.
There’s a fine line between making more money and alienating your player base, and Rockstar will certainly do everything it can to get as many sales as possible.
Modern games are embracing excessive monetization in increasing numbers, but they’re also walking some of these decisions backthanks to player outrage.Overwatch 2recently re-introduced free lootboxes to its game after their removal and subsequent lambasting by players a few years ago, and gacha games likeInfinty Nikkiare giving players more free pulls than ever. While live-service games have to make money, trusting studios to do so without harming players can be tricky business.
That being said, I wouldn’t get too discouraged too quickly. While players have very little power over the pricing and monetization of a game, they do have some influence. There’s a fine line between making more money and alienating your player base, and Rockstar will certainly do everything it can to get as many sales as possible.Unfortunately, that decision is up to market researchers at Rockstar, so there’s nothing to be done outside of making noise online regarding your hopes for the game and its price.
AAA Games Are Likely Getting More Expensive Across The Board
This Increase Is More Than Tariffs
GTA 6isn’t the only game that’s likely to see a price hike in the coming years; publishers are continually seeking more and more opportunities for monetization, and the market is the only thing holding them back. As players get used to paying $80 for games, it’s an easy jump to $90 and then even $100 becoming the average price point for AAA titles. Even games likeForspoken, which built up relatively little anticipationbefore its release because of its dialogue, retailed for $70, proving thateven the most average of AAA games benefits from a new standard being set.
If You’re Outraged By GTA 6’s Rumored $100 Price, You Might Want To Check The Cost Of GTA On PS1 When Adjusted For Inflation
Grand Theft Auto 6’s price could reach triple digits, but comparing the price of AAA games from the first GTA’s release may shed some light on why.
Bigger studios can market any of their new releases as AAA games, a title which supposedly justifies a higher price point than indie and smaller game releases. However,whether more big studios will follow in Nintendo’s footsteps with $80 titles remains to be seen. As most players know, not every AAA game is a hit, and at the end of the day, it’s consumers who will decide whether a game is a success.
Players appreciate hard work and heart being put into their games, and are willing to pay quite a bit when their trust in a studio has been well-earned.
Grand Theft Auto 6is on track to be the biggest release of 2025 (if there are no delays that push it back), and it’s an iconic series. Its status as a highly anticipated game means that many players will willingly fork over $100 to play it, but this step from Nintendo withMario Kart Worldand any subsequent moves by Rockstar have ramifications far beyond the scope of those two publishers. As the prices of everything go up, it’s important for studios to be on the ball, providing high-quality and affordable games to the consumers who trust them.
