As Game Prices Rise, Game Pass Is Looking More Tempting Than Ever

Nintendo’s disclosure about some Nintendo Switch 2 games costing $80 show that the future of gaming isn’t getting any cheaper. Xbox Game Pass may be the solution for those who don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on games every few months.

Nintendo Is Proving That Game Prices Will Go Up

The main reason is the higher prices for the console and its games. While many expected next-generation games to cost around $70, Nintendo has gone even further with its big release, Mario Kart World, setting the price at $80. This is more than the already high standard, and it makes Xbox Game Pass look far more appealing.

In an interview with GameSpot, Nintendo’s Bill Trinen tried to explain the higher price. He said that the full experience of Mario Kart World would make it worth the cost and that he thinks “as players learn more about the game, they’ll be excited about the content it offers.”

While it takes time and effort to make Mario Kart World, it’s clear that not all players are on board with the price ride. Features like the open-world Free Roam mode, a bigger selection of racers, and the new Knockout Tour mode are great, but some are questioning what Nintendo has added to justify the extra $10.

The Nintendo Direct presentation focused on the game didn’t help much either, as it mostly showed things like Battle Mode and Free Roam missions, which are features that feel familiar and not drastically different from past Mario Kart games. The cynic in me believes that Nintendo is charging $80 simply because it knows fans will pay it, especially since Mario Kart World is a major launch title for the Switch 2.

Still, this reflects the times and where the gaming industry is going. Brad Hendricks, CEO of Blind Squirrel Entertainment, explained to CNET, “Having a $60 price point for 10 or 15 years is great, but the truth is, the cost of everything has gone up.” He believes developers and publishers aren’t trying to exploit players. Hendricks hopes people understand that price increases aren’t about tricking consumers but are due to the rising costs of development teams, resources, and technology.

Many People Think GTA VI Will Be $100

There have been plenty of rumors and guesses about how much Grand Theft Auto VI might cost. Even though the company hasn’t officially announced the price, many rumors and predictions from experts suggest it could go beyond the $70 price and might even reach a shocking $100. Unless it ends up on a service like Game Pass, that’s a big price to pay.

While we were confident that GTA VI wouldn’t cost $100, Nintendo has thrown a wrench. One of the biggest reasons for this speculation comes from Matthew Ball, the CEO of Epyllion, about the gaming industry in 2025. In his report, Ball said that “some game makers hope GTA VI will be priced at $80 to $100, breaking the $70 barrier and helping $50 titles move up to $60, $60 to do $70, $70 to $80.” Even though this was merely speculation, it had a ripple effect.

There are several reasons why a higher price might be considered. One major factor is that making big games has become much more expensive. AAA games, the most high-budget and high-quality titles, now cost much more to develop because of high levels of visual fidelity, deep gameplay, and massive open worlds. Since GTA VI is expected to be one of the biggest and most ambitious games ever, some developers and publishers might think a higher price is fair. AAA games require large teams of artists, programmers, sound designers, testers, and writers; keeping these teams in the United States is getting more costly.

If Rockstar does decide to sell GTA VI for $100, it could influence the entire gaming industry, possibly leading other big games to raise their prices too. This could make gaming a more expensive hobby, pushing away casual players or those who can’t spend as much. If people pay $100 for a game, they’ll expect it to be perfect, with no bugs or essential content hidden behind DLC.

Game Pass Is Cheap, by Comparison

Video game prices keep going up, and while gaming has been a passion of mine since I was four, $100 per game feels like too much. The best thing to do if you don’t want to play $100 games is not to buy them. Xbox Game Pass is becoming a more appealing option than buying games one by one.

With different subscription levels, players can select the plan that fits their needs and budget, giving them an affordable way to try out a wide variety of games. The basic option, Game Pass Core, costs $9.99 monthly and gives players online multiplayer for Xbox games, along with a handpicked collection of over 25 games. Upgrading to Game Pass Standard at $14.99 monthly adds full access to the Game Pass library for the console.

The highest level in the Xbox Game Pass lineup is the Ultimate tier, which costs $19.99 per month. Over a year, this adds up to around $240, which is about the same as buying just three brand-new games at the current price of $80 each. Ultimate gives you new games every month, so you’re saving a lot with the caveat that you don’t get to choose what games you’re buying.

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I Never Thought Nintendo Switch 2 Would Help Lead Us To $100 Games

Nintendo is the new trailblazer for more expensive games.

You can buy an Amazon Fire Stick for $29.99 on Amazon right now, buy any of the best PC gaming controllers, and then pay for a subscription, and you’re set. There’s no need to buy expensive consoles, so the starting fees are really cheap.

What makes Ultimate stand out is that it includes so much. Not just console gaming but also PC Game Pass, cloud gaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming, an EA Play membership, and extra perks for free-to-play games. With the Ultimate tier, players get hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud, often including new releases on the same day they are released.

Cloud gaming makes it even more flexible, letting players stream games on different devices. You can easily play on consoles, PCs, phones, handhelds, and even VR headsets. With Game Pass Ultimate, one subscription opens up a huge range of gaming options, which is a variety that would normally cost a lot more if each game were bought separately.

Game Pass Is Worth a Try

Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has openly admitted to Variety that Xbox Game Pass, while a useful service, is “not for everybody.” He makes it clear that Microsoft isn’t trying to push every gamer into a subscription. Instead, the company wants to provide different ways for players to enjoy Xbox content.

Spencer wisely notes that if a gamer usually only buys one or two games a year, paying for those games directly would probably cost less than a full year of Game Pass. In that case, subscribing to Game Pass wouldn’t be the smartest financial choice. However, he explains that Game Pass can be a “healthy option for certain people,” meaning those who play many different games.

With game prices going up and business models changing, it feels like Game Pass is for those who don’t want to spend a ton of money on what is becoming a luxury hobby. It’s for those who like playing new games but don’t want to break the bank. The service is designed for gamers who like trying various titles, jumping into new releases, and always having something to play without buying each game separately.

Game prices are definitely going to increase. However, there’s a reason why streaming services for TV and movies became popular, and gaming might follow the same trend. If games are going to cost $80, then I’m set on Game Pass from now on.