🎮 Seriously, Guys?
Okay, look. I’m a programmer. I’m used to being cynical about big tech, sure. But this? This is next-level greed that makes even Bezos seem modest. You know capitalism, right? Competition, market forces, invisible hands, Adam Smith nodding sagely from the afterlife? That’s the stuff we’re sold on. But what we’ve just witnessed with Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox feels like capitalism took a wrong turn into price-collusion alley.
📈 The Big Three’s Price Hike Parade
First, Nintendo strolls up all innocent-like and casually drops the news that the Switch 2 and its games are getting more expensive. Like, “Oh hey, you like Mario? Pay more.” Cool, cool. Then PlayStation, not wanting to miss out on gouging wallets, matches the price hikes by raising PS5 console prices and for now at least, games are still a minimum of $70. Seventy dollars, folks. That’s a week’s worth of Soylent for your average developer.
Finally, Xbox saunters in late (classic Microsoft), sees the other two flexing their pricing muscles, and says, “Hold my overpriced microtransaction beer.” They jacked up their console price by a full Benjamin—100 freaking dollars—and also decided that yes, $80 sounds perfect for every new release.
So, here’s my question: Where exactly is the competitive spirit here? Did they just meet at some villainous volcano lair and decide collectively that gamers hadn’t suffered enough lately?
🚨 The Vacuum That Could’ve Been
Economically speaking (and honestly, just common sense speaking), if any one of these companies had taken a stand and said, “You know what? Times are tough. Let’s hold our prices and gain loyalty,” they would’ve created a vacuum effect. Gamers, who, reminder, are actual human beings experiencing a global recession, would’ve flocked to that company like VCs to blockchain startups in 2021. Instant goodwill, increased market share, brand loyalty through the roof.
But no. They ALL went full-on Lex Luthor, simultaneously raising prices, ensuring that no single console maker benefits at the consumer’s expense. This isn’t competition. It’s a cartel in hoodies and branded lanyards.
💻 PC Gaming: The Last Bastion
So, what now? Enter PC gaming, our scrappy hero, where Steam and other platforms haven’t (yet) completely sold their souls. Indie devs, flexible pricing, mods; PC gaming remains the last refuge for gamers who aren’t into paying extortionate prices. If Valve stays neutral and keeps letting developers price their games fairly, they’ll earn even more support from the community.
🎯 Everybody else here not sitting on a cushion
Let’s be clear. This coordinated gouging isn’t okay. Gamers deserve competition, innovation, and reasonable prices, not to become victims of corporate greed. The Big Three have made their intentions crystal clear: profits over people. For now, PC gaming might be our best (and possibly only) hope. Stay alert, support independent platforms, and keep your wallets out of the hands of corporate cartel wannabes.
Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, just stop trying to win Villain of the Year already.
