Wardogs lead argues higher GTA 6 price could have set trend that prevents layoffs

[Dirty Dan]

I could get on-board with this if everyone followed Bulkhead's busines model of lower prices for early adopters in EA and a higher full release price. I could also get on-board with this if AAA games weren't just a short lived money grab plus MTX hell. I have put more hours i to more $10 games than I have $60+ games. On the other hand, maybe forcus less on shareholders and focus more the people who make your shareholders a profit, your developers and customers.

[Gay rat critic]

Someone's about to get kicked in the nuts by every person on a budget who enjoys games

[Somebody]

Games should cost for the amount of time put in and out out. For example... RE9 12 hours to beat and slop should not be 70 bucks! That should be a 20 buck game new off the shelf. Games like GTA, fallout, Persona etc... all have over 100 hours of gameplay and time put in. Those I'll gladly pay 80 plus for, because I know I will get my moneys worth. Also... Digital games should not cost the same as a physical.

, only issue I find with this is games like clicker games, or mobile games, I think time put Into making the game should matter too

[Partypooper]

That's not how capitalism works. Particularly capitalism with a conscience.

That's exactly how unfettered capitalism works. Stakeholder capitalism as you are describing can start out with a conscience but it's always short lived, once that start up or private company goes public focus shifts to shareholder primacy with short term horizons. Meaning the work force is treated like elastic contracts and layoffs happen to improve the margins. The board gets what the board wants every time.

[Nope.]

Or they could just pay the ceo a few million less. Theyll still be able to buy their super yachts and the people who actually work and contribute to the company will be able afford food and rent.

Win/win?

[The ice machine]

This is an unrealistic thinking from someone who is out of touch with the key demographic of people who actually game. The real key is the elimination of budgets that are too high, keeping the window for release within two years instead of 6 to 10 years. They also need to get rid of a lot of excess management and redundance that causes over spending in the first place. They need to audit each department and analyze what they really need for a good game. Graphics are nice, but you have to have some substance too. His type of thinking is one sure way to tank the industry overall. The people who hod up the gaming industry are mostly the types they are alienating with prices and poor story design. They will sell more if the games are at a fair price around $30 to $60. If they actually craft a story that is genuinely engaging and interesting it will sell. I know it is a novel concept. Rasing the price on games in a rapidly collapsing industry is not a smart move at all. They will just hasten the inevitable. This is one place walstreet should not get into the ring. They will turn it into a s*** show. It is not something that translates into a 1:1 corporate thing like normal. They will cause it to collapse fast like we see now.

[Gigs]

What happens when everyone keeps raising prices and then they realize noone can afford new games anymore all the time? Food, water, rent/mortgage, fuel.... necessities come before the ability to buy a game within the first month or so of a game coming out. What happens then? I agree with a previous post that regardless of the amount of time a game company puts into the end user is what matters. Keep treating us like we dont and see what happens. You dont make money if you dont sell anything. Budget better. The customer is always right regardless if we "own" the game or not. On top of that quit throwing out slop. Why would anyone pay 60-100 for anything that has little to zero replay value, that takes 20 to 30 hours to beat? Kingdom come, gta, rdr,elden ring, etc. These games you can clearly put over 100 easy just by how fun they are and how much they have in them. Care about your product, so we can. Stop slapping AAA on a game if it isn't gonna deliver. As for Wardogs, dont get greedy. You released a great game once. Don't think your a big dog.

[Mike F]

I get where he's coming from.  In 1990, the MSRP for class A games on the Super Nintendo was $59.99.  In 2026 terms, that's $153.00.  Games cost a lot more to make now, regardless of whether you think that money is spent wisely.  But prices have hardly budged at all.  The savings from things like digital distribution and not getting a guide book actually have been passed on to the customer. 

[rob w]

Layoffs are only happening because of all the recruitment since COVID. Profits drop because people returned to work, it was inevitable. Rising prices will not stop the layoffs at all but delay them. I say get them out of the way quickly then things will return to as normal as can be. But corporate greed will never go away, so prices will still rise even without layoffs as the excuse!