Alright, The Snark Syndicate 😈, gather ’round. Because today, we’re not just reviewing content, we’re RANTING about the content-creating industry itself. Specifically, the one that decided our wallets needed to shed an extra twenty bucks per game. Yes, we’re talking about the glorious new reality of the $80 video game. And the latest star to grace this stage of fiscal audacity? None other than The Outer Worlds 2.
Now, if you thought this was just a Bad Decision by one studio, hold your horses. The game’s director, Brandon Adler, decided to pull the classic “Don’t shoot the messenger!” routine. He apparently told GamesRadar that Obsidian (the brilliant folks who actually made the game) doesn’t set the price. Oh, no. That’s a Chaos move handled by the higher-ups.
“We’re a game developer. We love to make games. We don’t set the prices for our games,” he lamented, practically shrugging. “Take it up with the Xbox folks.”
The Blame Game: Pass the Buck, Not the Savings!
Isn’t that just Pure Cinematic Gold! in its absurdity? The artists, the creatives, the literal makers of the joy, wish everyone could play their game. Bless their cotton socks. But the “Xbox folks” (Microsoft, the benevolent overlords of your gaming existence) have decided that your loyalty (and frankly, your dwindling disposable income) is worth an extra twenty bucks. Because, as Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer so eloquently put it,
“it’s his job to make money and run a successful business.” – Phil Spencer
LAUGHING MY ASS OFF! Imagine if every movie director said, “Oh, we wish you could all see our films for free, but take it up with Paramount Pictures why you’re paying $20 for popcorn!” It’s such an Unfiltered Opinion of “we’re just doing our jobs” that it almost makes you want to… well, pay the $80 just to spite them. Almost. (Not happy about this at all!)
This isn’t just Microsoft’s Sharp Take on economics, mind you. Nintendo’s doing it with Mario Kart World (because apparently, karts are now made of solid gold). 2K Games is contemplating it for Borderlands 4 (Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox, also doing the “I’m just an artist” dance). Everyone’s acknowledging it’s a “business,” but conveniently forgetting the “consumer” side of that equation.
The Trade-Offs: Your Wallet or Your Sanity?
Phil Spencer talks about “trade-offs.” You know what that means for us, the actual players? It means our trade-offs. Do we buy fewer games? Do we rely solely on Game Pass (which, surprise, is also getting more expensive)? Do we simply… gasp… wait for sales? The horror!( I cancelled my Game Pass months ago, before all the shenanigans!)
The Outer Worlds 2 launches October 29 this year, for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. And yes, if you don’t want to shell out the Oscar-Worthy $80, you can use your Game Pass Ultimate membership. Because nothing says “value” like paying a recurring subscription and then being asked to pay even more for the games you’re already subscribed for, right? (Though, fair play, Game Pass for Outer Worlds 2 is a solid escape route for now).
So, while the developers make their art, and the CEOs make their money, we, the humble gamers, are left scratching our heads and rummaging through our couch cushions for those elusive extra tens. This isn’t just about The Outer Worlds 2. This is about the future of gaming, and frankly, it feels like a Bad Decision for everyone involved… except the shareholders, I guess.
The Verdict: Are We Just Cogs in the Price Machine?
The shift to $80 games is a clear indicator that the industry, emboldened by its success, is testing the limits of consumer tolerance. Developers are forced to deflect, and executives are forced to justify. And we, the players, are left wondering if our passion is turning into an increasingly expensive luxury. This isn’t just a pricing rant; it’s a plea for value in a market that’s starting to take our loyalty for granted.
