Will $100 Games Save the Industry? Indiana Jones Author Warns of Player Loss
Amid rumors that future hits like GTA 6 could cost up to $100, Yerk Gustafsson from Machine Games has joined the discussion.
The developer of the new Indiana Jones game and the Wolfenstein series believes that further price increases are not the solution to the problem of growing AAA project budgets. According to him, overcoming new price thresholds will only lead to a reduction in the audience. This, according to Gustafsson, has already been shown by the restrained market reaction to attempts to fix the price at $80 for individual games on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox.
Instead of raising prices, Gustafsson suggests focusing on optimizing internal processes. He cites increased efficiency, more thoughtful marketing, and active use of existing brands as key factors. Remakes and remasters, he says, allow for financing riskier new projects without drastically increasing the cost of games. Machine Games is already applying this approach, paying attention to resource conservation and precise control over the scale of development.
Despite the current difficulties in the industry, the head of Machine Games remains optimistic. Gustafsson believes that the gaming market will continue to grow, as the first generation that grew up with a gamepad in their hands is still far from retirement age.
