A scorching potato: The economic system is shaky, AI is taking jobs, and individuals are tightening their belts, which implies there’s by no means been a greater time for Microsoft to disclose its first $80 sport. The Redmond agency has confirmed that The Outer Worlds 2 can be priced at $79.99 within the US, making it the primary Xbox Recreation Studios title to undertake this unwelcome value level.
This does not come as a shock, after all. A couple of weeks in the past, Microsoft introduced a variety of value hikes throughout its Xbox {hardware} and software program lineup, which it blamed on market pressures and rising growth prices.
Along with costlier Xbox consoles, Microsoft stated it plans to standardize pricing for a few of its upcoming first-party sport releases at $79.99.
The primary of those titles can be The Outer Worlds 2. It launches on October 29, 2025, falling into the vacation season interval that Microsoft stated could be when the value will increase arrive. Along with the $79.99/£69.99 commonplace model, there will even be a particular version that prices $100.
Microsoft is unlikely to be overly apprehensive in regards to the blowback over the value. As an Xbox Recreation Studios title, it is going to launch straight into the PC/Xbox Recreation Cross service on day one. As is the case every time a AAA title lands on the service, count on to see loads of individuals take out subscriptions to play the sport as a substitute of handing over the retail quantity.
The primary Outer Worlds was a type of video games that obtained principally good to glorious opinions however did not set the world on hearth. Unsurprisingly, some customers are overview bombing the unique sport on Steam in response to its sequel’s $80 price ticket.
Obsidian, developer of each video games, can also be launching Grounded 2 this 12 months. At $29.99, it is greater than 60% cheaper than The Outer Worlds 2.
It isn’t simply Microsoft pushing up the usual value of AAA video games. Nintendo acquired there first when it introduced that each first-party Change 2 sport would value $70 or $80 – Mario Kart World falls into the latter class.
A) Not my name. B) When you’re an actual fan, you may discover a option to make it occur. My native sport retailer had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 once I was simply out of highschool working minimal wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Seaside and I discovered a option to make it occur.
– Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) May 14, 2025
There’s been loads of anger over growing sport costs. It is led to some inside the trade attempting to justify them, unsuccessfully. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, for instance, stated “actual followers” would discover a option to pay money for Borderland 4 if it prices $80.
There have additionally been loads of rumors about GTA VI costing greater than $80. One analyst wrote that builders and publishers “hope” that the sport may value as a lot as $100 when it arrives, as such a transfer may embolden different firms to begin charging much more for his or her video games.
Many firms cite massive growth groups and rising manufacturing prices as justification for value hikes. Nonetheless, it is price noting that three of the best-selling titles of 2025 up to now – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Cut up Fiction, and Blue Prince – are all funds releases.
