Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – gaming is not a cheap hobby (Picture: Sony)

A reader and recent father of twins reveals how the debate over the price of Spider-Man 2 has been the catalyst for him to sell his console.

I’ve seen a lot of arguments back and forth about the price of Spider-Man 2 and whether it would be better value for money if it was longer or if it’s fine to pay $70/£70 for a game that only lasts 15 hours. Well, for me that’s kind of missing the point. Having recently become a dad to twins I suddenly find myself so short of money the thought of spending that much on a video game isn’t something I can even consider.

Naturally, I haven’t got much time either, but I should’ve been able to fit in a ‘short’ 15+ hour campaign, as I have been able to find the odd hour or two of quiet to indulge in those games I do already have. But I can’t justify the cost, not with all my responsibilities at the moment.

I realise that I could try and get a physical copy, beat it, and sell it but the whole argument over whether the game is worth the money or not has made realise that video games are just too expensive nowadays and this is probably the time to stop spending what little remaining personal cash I have on them.

You reach a limit like this, and you realise something has to change, that the things you used to spend time and money on when you hand no responsibilities are just not sensible anymore. I’m not going to accuse Sony or anyone else of being greedy or unfair – I understand why game prices are going up – but for me it’s reached a limit where I just have to say ‘no’.

It’s not just the games though. Spider-Man 2 is really just the straw that broke the camel’s back. It costs what it does but then you’ve got all the other games I’d be interested in this year, like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Alan Wake 2. Then on top of that talk of the Switch 2 and PS5 Pro…

Everything is just becoming too much; expense piled upon expense. I realise I don’t have to get any of these things but I think it’s best for me to decide not to, to make a clean break, before I’m tempted to carry on and my lack of willpower keeps finding excuses to get ‘just one more game.’

I will hopefully come back to gaming in a few years’ time and while I intend to sell my newer consoles I’ll keep the older ones to play some of my favourite retro games. I have been thinking, though, about what might have convinced me to carry on.

If Sony had a true equivalent to Game Pass that might have made a difference. I’ve never been a fan of Xbox games but if I could’ve played Spider-Man 2 for no extra cost, day one, that would have been mighty tempting, even if subscriptions are getting more expensive all the time.

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But really, the price is only part of it. The other half is just wanting to be more responsible. I don’t think it’s right to be constantly thinking about where I can steal some time away from my kids, to play a video game.

I’ll need some ‘me time’, I’m sure, but not when it costs the price of a weekly shop to enjoy it. Everything is getting more expensive at the moment, but when that includes an unnecessary luxury like a video game I think you’ve got to take stock and consider your priorities. Thanks for listening.

By reader CollinsBlister

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A reader and recent father of twins reveals how the debate over the price of Spider-Man 2 has been the catalyst for him to sell his console.