Cliff Notes – Games Inbox: Why is the PS5 more expensive than the Nintendo Switch 2
- Price Increase Timing: Sony’s decision to raise the PlayStation 5’s price just before the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 has raised eyebrows, suggesting a lack of strategic foresight in the gaming industry.
- Market Dynamics: The PS5’s price hike, occurring nearly five years post-launch, contrasts with traditional trends where console prices typically decrease over time, indicating a shift in market dynamics influenced by external factors like tariffs.
- Consumer Sentiment: The rising costs of both consoles and games are prompting gamers to become more selective in their purchases, reflecting broader economic pressures and dissatisfaction with the current state of the gaming market.
Games Inbox: Why is the PS5 more expensive than the Nintendo Switch 2?
The Tuesday letters page suggests that Mario Kart World is the video game bargain of the year, as a reader ponders the effect of nostalgia on live service games.
Bad timing
That’s some big brain moves from Sony there, increasing the price of the PlayStation 5 just two months before the Switch 2 comes up and making sure Nintendo’s machine is the cheapest still.
I think I’m beginning to agree with the notion that nobody in the games industry knows what they’re doing and definitely doesn’t seem to have any sense of timing.
I’m not sure what effect this is going to have in the long term, and I’m sure Sony doesn’t either, but it’s certainly going to mean the PlayStation 5 no longer has any chance of beating the PlayStation 4.
With the Xbox Series X/S no longer relevant and the Switch 1 on the way out I’m sure Sony feel it’s now worth the risk to increase the price but whoever thought that would happen five years after it first came out?
I know it’s not entirely their fault, given the madness in America, but just think what this means for PlayStation 6 prices, once we start to get into that over the next year or two.
Focus
First mover disadvantage
I’ve got to admit I’m shocked at the price increase of the PlayStation 5, so late in the generation and completely out of the blue. Well, obviously we all know about the tariffs but… they don’t affect anywhere but the US, in terms of imports, so why is the rest of the world getting price hikes?
Unfortunately, this was predicted as soon as the tariffs started, when people said that companies would not increase the price in the US, which is their biggest market, more than they absolutely have to and try to offset that by increasing them everywhere else too.
Who know what’s going to happen to the Switch 2 price between now and launch but if it doesn’t change in the rest of the world that will immediately make Nintendo some fans. Even more if we learnt that other companies really are planning to charge £100 for new games.
This whole thing is turning into a nightmare though and I really don’t think Sony is doing itself any favours by being so eager to increase the prices.
Cranston
Changing times
The PlayStation 5 is getting a price increase nearly five years after it came out? The second one it’s already had?! And now it’s more expensive than the Nintendo Switch 2? We truly are living in the darkest, dumbest timeline.
I already have a PlayStation 5, so I guess this doesn’t affect me that much, but the whole thing seems so crazy. I don’t know what’s happened to gaming in the last few years. It’s like it’s changed out of all recognition and it’s getting worse – and I don’t like anything about it. Too few big games, too high prices, and Nintendo is not the cure-all some hoped. This generation was a mistake, let alone the next one.
Morse
The Mortal Kombat test
With the new season of The Last Of Us out this week (I haven’t seen it myself) I can’t help comparing its critical success with the Minecraft movie.
I see people constantly referring to video game movies getting better, but I really don’t know what they mean? Borderlands was one of the worst films of last year, Minecraft is bad, even the Mario Bros. movie wasn’t very good.
The only one that everyone seems to agree is good is the Sonic The Hedgehog movies, but only good in an ‘okay’ sense. Is that really the best we can do? And more importantly, does it pass the test of being better than the original Mortal Kombat movie? Not in my opinion.
Video game TV shows might be good, but I still don’t see any evidence you can make a decent two hour movie out of them.
Winston
Single wish
I’m looking forward to the Mario Kart World Direct this Thursday. I really enjoyed the Switch 2 announcement and announcement of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the other games and features mentioned.
I’m hoping with the new game there will be a single-player story mode or campaign like in Diddy Kong Racing, as although I have enjoyed the various versions of Mario Kart games (except the mobile version) I would like them to improve on the single-player experience, as well as the multiplayer experience.
Andrew J.
Flat circle
I notice that Call Of Duty: Warzone is the latest in a long line of online games that has managed to stage a comeback by bringing back an earlier version, in this case the map Verdansk.
This raises a lot of questions for me, the first being what do they do next time there’s a dip? They can’t play the nostalgia card again – you can’t make people nostalgic for the time they made you nostalgic. Or at least I don’t think you can.
Fortnite was the first to do it but I’m sure they’ll all end up going that way soon, since it’s being proved to work in other games too. It worries me that it’s another example of everything just chasing its own tail. You might not get sequels with live service games but now we’re getting the equivalent, where they reach a certain point and then fold back on themselves, ready to start it all again.
Actually, I guess World Of Warcraft started it all, with the classic version. If the end result of these live service games lasting five or 10 years is that everyone decides they were better before they added anything new I really don’t know what that’s saying. Other than it makes it seem like the whole thing has been a waste of time.
Franky
Bargain of the year
I know the physical edition price is getting all the attention, but I think if you look beyond that Mario Kart World is looking pretty amazing. It’s basically £34 if you buy it with the console and for that you get the biggest shake-up the series has ever seen, with a huge open world and tons of extra stuff that I suspect we’ve barely seen the half of yet.
There’s a Direct just for the game on Thursday and yet normally you would’ve thought you’d seen all you need to of the game by now, considering the last Direct seemed pretty detailed. So yes, the physical version is too much, but I wouldn’t say the digital is and the bundle price seems like the bargain of the year to me.
Caski
Price reversal
So, there we have it. The Nintendo Switch 2 will be cheaper than the PS5 – a console that’s now approaching its fifth birthday. This isn’t because Nintendo is playing a clever game to undercut its competition, but rather due to Sony’s decision to implement a second price increase this generation.
What stands out most to me is that the past is no longer a reliable indicator of how the future will unfold. Traditionally, console prices go down over time, as components become cheaper. Now, we’re seeing the opposite. In addition, game prices, stagnant for so long, are rising – fast. Count me among those who predict GTA 6 will launch at around £100.
As for the Switch 2 launch itself? I actually think it was fine overall. It didn’t blow me away, but the hardware looks solid, there’s clearly more third party support, and the price is reasonable. The jump to £75 for physical editions of Nintendo’s top tier franchises feels steep (both Zelda games on the Switch retailed at £60) but at least Nintendo is acknowledging that digital versions should be cheaper than physical ones.
Gamers have been asking this question for years: why are digital games the same price – or sometimes even more expensive – than physical copies, when there are fewer overheads involved? We always knew the answer was greed. Hopefully, other publishers – who’ll be quick to charge £75 for physical games – will follow suit and price digital versions lower. But honestly, I doubt it.
All in all, we’re now watching game prices climb like olive oil and eggs have in recent times. Our hobby has become another casualty of the cost of living crisis. It was inevitable but that doesn’t make it welcome or comfortable. I’m fortunate enough to have saved for the Switch 2 and have already pre-ordered one, but from here on out I’ll be a lot more selective – reading reviews and waiting for sales before picking up any new games, and I’m sure most will feel similar.
Matt
Inbox also-rans
Is anyone really looking forwards to The Outer Worlds 2 so much that they want it to be the game Microsoft spends 30 minutes on for not-E3? It took me a good few minutes to remember what the first game even was.
Lumpy
After reading that the Dragon Age and Mass Effect teams never got on I’ve resigned myself to never getting a new Mass Effect. I think BioWare are probably not long for this world, after the failure of The Veilguard, and it’s a real shame.
Hedorah