People shouldn't complain about £80 games says ex-PlayStation boss
Sony veteran Shuhei Yoshida has defended the rising costs of games, as he supports the idea of variable pricing.
Between the anger around Nintendo's £74.99 price tag for Mario Kart World and increased costs across Xbox games, it's clear game prices will be a big topic for months to come.
GTA 6 looks set to become a key talking point in this debate, with analysts predicting it could cost upwards of £100 when it launches on May 26, 2026. Rockstar hasn't officially announced the price, but Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently stressed its commitment to variable pricing, with Mafia: The Old Country launching at £44.99 later this year.
In a new interview, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, who recently expressed his disappointment with the Switch 2, has addressed concerns around rising game prices – and he doesn't think it's a bad thing.
Speaking to Critical Hits, Yoshida expressed his support for variable pricing: 'I don't believe every game has to be priced the same. Each game has different value it provides, or the size of budget. I totally believe it is up to the publishers – or developers self-publishing – decision to price their product to the value that they believe they are bringing in.'
While he believes there should be no standard price for games, Yoshida states that the most expensive titles – now priced at $70 or $80 (UK prices are expected to work out as £80, based on prior conversion rates) – are still a bargain when compared to other forms of entertainment.
'In terms of actual price of $70 or $80, for really great games, I think it will still be a steal in terms of the amount of entertainment that top games, top quality games bring to people compared to other form of entertainment,' Yoshida said.
'As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining about [it].'
While defining a game's worth based on its length is always messy, if you use this metric, most games outclass film and television in terms of value for money. More Trending
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, for example, is moderately priced at £50 and takes around 30-40 hours to beat. When compared to the average £15 cinema ticket for a two hour film, there's no contest.
In terms of franchises like Mario Kart, which releases new games very infrequently, there's an argument the £74.99 price point for Mario Kart World is justified, based on its quality and staying power as a multiplayer title; especially given £70 titles like EA Sports FC and Call Of Duty are released every year.
However, the acceptance of these price points has perhaps become difficult to swallow due to the influx of free-to-play titles. When you can play Fortnite or Apex Legends for free, the idea of paying £80 for a game suddenly looks outdated and unappealing.
It remains to be seen if these increased price points will actually affect sales, but it's easy to see Yoshida's point of view – even if it's not one that will be greeted with much enthusiasm by the average gamer.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: Marathon delay predicted as concerns mount over the future of Bungie
MORE: Games Inbox: Should there be a GTA 6 spin-off on Nintendo Switch 2?
MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be a third party port machine – Reader's Feature
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geeky Gadgets
11 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox : A Console That's Actually a Gaming PC!
What if your next gaming console wasn't just a console, but a full-fledged gaming PC in disguise? Microsoft's upcoming Xbox is poised to shatter the traditional boundaries of console gaming, offering a device that's as much about flexibility and power as it is about play. With a modified Windows operating system, AMD's innovative Ryzen Z2 Extreme AI chip, and cross-platform compatibility, this next-gen Xbox is more than a gaming system—it's a bold reimagining of what a console can be. Imagine downloading games from Steam, tweaking performance settings like a PC enthusiast, or seamlessly switching from your console to a handheld device—all without leaving the Xbox ecosystem. This isn't just evolution; it's a revolution in how we think about gaming hardware. In this exploration, ETA Prime uncovers how Microsoft is blurring the line between consoles and PCs, creating a platform that caters to both casual players and hardcore enthusiasts. From its open ecosystem that supports multiple storefronts to its collaboration with ASUS on handheld gaming, the next-gen Xbox is redefining versatility in gaming. You'll discover how features like the Game Bar and AMD's advanced processor bring PC-like customization and performance to your living room. But is this hybrid approach the future of gaming, or does it risk alienating traditional console fans? Let's examine the innovations, the possibilities, and the potential trade-offs of a console that dares to think like a PC. Next-Gen Xbox Overview The new Xbox is designed to cater to a broad spectrum of gamers, offering features that appeal to both casual players and dedicated enthusiasts. By combining the power of PC gaming with the accessibility of a console, Microsoft is creating a platform that adapts to the evolving needs of the gaming community. Microsoft and AMD: Powering the Future of Gaming Central to the next-gen Xbox's capabilities is Microsoft's enduring partnership with AMD, a collaboration that has consistently pushed the boundaries of gaming technology. This relationship, which began with the Xbox One, has reached new heights with the integration of AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme AI chip. The Ryzen Z2 chip is a technological marvel, engineered to deliver exceptional performance across a variety of gaming scenarios. It offers faster processing speeds, enhanced graphical fidelity, and improved power efficiency, making it ideal for both consoles and handheld devices. By incorporating this advanced processor, Microsoft is making sure that the next-gen Xbox can handle even the most demanding games with ease, providing a smooth and immersive gaming experience. A Console with a PC-Like Operating System One of the standout features of the next-gen Xbox is its operating system, which represents a significant departure from the traditionally closed ecosystems of gaming consoles. Reports indicate that the console will run a modified version of Windows, allowing you to install games from multiple storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games, and GOG. This open approach enables gamers with greater control over their game libraries and settings, mirroring the flexibility typically associated with gaming PCs. Features like the Game Bar, a staple of Windows gaming, will be integrated into the console, allowing you to monitor performance, capture gameplay, and customize settings with ease. This PC-like functionality ensures that the next-gen Xbox offers a user experience that is both familiar and innovative. The Next-Gen Xbox is Actually a Gaming PC! Watch this video on YouTube. Check out more relevant guides from our extensive collection on gaming PC systems that you might find useful. Handheld Gaming: The ROG Xbox Ally In addition to its flagship console, Microsoft is making strides in the handheld gaming market through its collaboration with ASUS. The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are designed to combine the portability of handheld consoles with the power and versatility of gaming PCs. These devices are powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme AI chip, making sure high performance for even the most graphically intensive games. The handhelds come equipped with features like the Game Bar and ASUS's Armory Crate, which enhance the gaming experience by allowing you to optimize performance, monitor system metrics, and customize settings directly from the device. This partnership with ASUS highlights Microsoft's commitment to expanding its gaming ecosystem, offering solutions that cater to gamers who value portability without compromising on performance. An Open Ecosystem for Cross-Platform Gaming The next-gen Xbox is embracing an open gaming ecosystem, moving away from proprietary storefronts and restrictive platforms. This shift allows you to access games from a variety of sources, including Steam, Epic Games, and GOG, providing unparalleled flexibility in how you build and manage your game library. This open approach aligns with the growing trend of cross-platform gaming, where players can enjoy their favorite titles across multiple devices without being confined to a single ecosystem. By supporting multi-storefront game installations, Microsoft is catering to a diverse range of gamer preferences, making sure that the next-gen Xbox is as inclusive as it is powerful. Performance and Accessibility: A Balanced Approach Performance is a cornerstone of the next-gen Xbox, and the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme AI chip plays a pivotal role in delivering smooth and responsive gameplay. Whether you're exploring expansive open worlds or engaging in fast-paced multiplayer battles, the console is designed to handle it all with ease. Beyond raw performance, Microsoft is also prioritizing accessibility. Features like the Game Bar and ASUS's Armory Crate simplify the gaming experience, allowing you to focus on playing rather than navigating complex menus or settings. This balance between high performance and user-friendly design ensures that the next-gen Xbox appeals to both casual gamers and hardcore enthusiasts. Windows and Steam OS: Flexibility for All Gamers While the modified Windows OS is central to the next-gen Xbox, Microsoft is also exploring compatibility with alternative operating systems like Steam OS. This flexibility underscores the company's commitment to creating a gaming platform that accommodates a wide range of user preferences. Whether you prefer the familiarity of Windows or the streamlined interface of Steam OS, the next-gen Xbox is designed to adapt to your needs. This dual compatibility ensures that the console remains accessible to a diverse audience, further solidifying its position as a versatile and forward-thinking gaming platform. Media Credit: ETA PRIME Filed Under: Gaming News, Top News, Xbox Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Metro
18 hours ago
- Metro
Unrivalled success has ruined PS5 and the PlayStation brand - Reader's Feature
A reader is convinced that the runaway profits of the PS5 have convinced Sony that doing as little as possible is the most reliable route to success. There's a popular meme that's lasted quite a few years now, that's usually applied to China and states simply: 'Does Nothing. Wins.' I don't want to get into the sphere of global politics but it's pretty clear what it means, in that China's influence continues to grow simply as a result of letting the US make mistakes, while it sensibly stays out of it all. I think you can probably see where I'm going with this, but replace China with Sony and the US with Microsoft and I think you've got a pretty good summary of the current video game generation. I've been thinking about the comparison for a while now, but it seemed even more obvious this week, when Xbox blundered its way through another vague and unconvincing hardware annoucement, while Sony did absolutely nothing… except reveal that the PlayStation 5 has been more profitable than all the other PlayStation consoles combined. If we discount the PlayStation 3 (which is the only one not to make a profit) I think I can say with some certainty that nobody is ever going to count the PlayStation 5 as their favourite Sony console. It's increase in power has been almost entirely unproven and the promises about it were pretty sketchy anyway. It's also had far less first party games than the PlayStation 4, despite that being the peak of Sony's internal development – the sort of thing you might have expected them to build on for their next console. Add in the disaster that has been their attitude towards live service games and you'd imagine that they are being badly punished for their inactivity, not to mention their unwillingness to discuss any of this in public. Instead, doing nothing has worked out incredibly well for them. Not discussing things in public, which is always a risk, is going great so why bother doing anything else? The lesson the PlayStation 5 seems to have taught is that the less you do the more profit you make. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. This is because Sony now makes so much money from PS Plus and microtransactions that it literally doesn't have to bother with anything else. With Xbox no longer being a serious rival in terms of hardware, most people play AAA games on a PlayStation 5 and so all those skins and cosmetics and other rubbish from super mainstream games like Call Of Duty and EA Sports FC are being bought on PlayStation 5s, with Sony getting a cut of all of it. The majority of Sony's profits are not coming from anything to do with the things core or hardcore gamers like, it's all casuals wanting to play multiplayer games online, while wasting hundreds on microtransactions and complaining that all other games are too expensive. Sony doesn't need to engage with less casual fans because they already making money hand over fist. In fact, ignoring fans seems to make more (much more) money than even offering the odd olive branch. You want to know why Sony is so obsessed by live service games? Particularly online shooters. It's because they need PS Plus for you to play them and they're easy to fill with cosmetics you pay for with microtransactions. They're the opposite of single-player games, which is why we're not getting more of those and yet Concord's failure barely seemed to phase them. Sony has not stopped making proper games entirely. Ghost Of Yōtei is out this year and clearly they can afford the odd prestige single-player game to show off with and win awards. That sort of thing helps make the PlayStation 5 look more appealing, but with no competition in terms of high end consoles there's barely any choice anyway – it's PlayStation 5 or Switch 2 now and I think it's pretty obvious what the average COD and FIFA player is going to go for. More Trending It's all pretty bleak and depressing really. Good games will continue to be made – this year has been great so far – but not by Sony, or at least not more than once a year or so. The PlayStation 5 has been ruined by its success and, just as everyone predicted, a single format future, with no serious competition, has made Sony complacent and lazy. Unfortunately, the future is now and it's not very good. By reader Ashton Marley The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Playing Gex again is a reminder of a simpler time for gaming - Reader's Feature MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Where are Michael Jackson's giant HIStory statues 30 years later?
In June 1995, a giant statue of Michael Jackson provided a surreal sight in the heart of London when it was floated on a barge down the River 32ft (10m) pop colossus was just one of 10 that appeared around the world to promote the superstar's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book fibreglass titans then followed Jackson on his global years later - and 16 years after his death - the King of Pop continues to attract controversy, but some of the statues still stand defiantly in unexpected corners of the world. How the King of Pop became fibreglass Jackson's double album was a mix of his greatest hits alongside 15 new tracks including Earth Song, which would spend six weeks at the top of the UK America, sculptor Diana Walczak consulted with the pop star to create a clay sculpture that was digitally scanned for the album artist Stephen Pyle, who had built sets for worldwide productions of The Phantom of the Opera, was asked by a Sony employee called Robbie Williams (not that one) to make 10 huge statues based on this album cover. He hired sculptor Derek Howarth to craft the statue in polystyrene sections, which Mr Pyle used to make moulds and fibreglass was assembled in Chris and Liz Clark's workshop at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, where they were painted to look like team worked without access to Ms Walczak's prototype, which led to them looking slightly Pyle says: "Making 10 statues in four months was quite the challenge, but thanks to Derek, Chris, Liz and the rest of my workshop team at the time, we became quite the efficient factory for Michael Jackson monoliths!"The fates of some of the statues is uncertain, and they may have been locked in storage or destroyed. But others have remained on show in some unlikely locations. A McDonald's in the Netherlands For many years, a King of Pop monument towered over a McDonald's car park in the village of Best in the owner Peter Van Gelder bought the statue from Sony at a 1996 charity gala for the Ronald McDonald Children's Fund."The restaurant had just opened and didn't yet have the big yellow M," he says. "It was my intention to put it down as an eye-catcher."Jackson fans began flocking to the spot, taking photos and playing his music. Crowds became so frequent that Peter had to fence off the statue to stop people climbing on year on Jackson's birthday, and on the day he died, it became a shrine, with fans gathering to play music, hang pictures and leave flowers. Things changed in 2019 after HBO's Leaving Neverland documentary levelled new allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson. "In the Netherlands there was not such a strong reaction and my intention was to just leave the statue there," explained he said pressure from the fast food chain's US headquarters led to its removal and storage in a "secret location".McDonald's tells the BBC: "In 2019, following the documentary, it was decided to remove the statue."We felt and feel it is important for all guests to feel comfortable when visiting one of our restaurants."Peter hopes to donate the statue to a fan club, but due to its size a building permit is required. "Many have approached me but still no-one has been able to get a permit," he says."The years have passed since his death and I've noticed that the interest in the statue is decreasing... So the Michael Jackson statue lies resting under a tarp in an insignificant shed." A nightclub in Austria The courtyard of an abandoned club in a small town 18 miles (30km) west of Vienna is not the place you'd expect to find a towering effigy of the King of Franz Josef Zika won the statue in 1998 at a radio charity auction in aid of the Red Cross, and spent 150,000 Austrian Schillings (£9,300).He recalls: "The big problem was when I went home and had to tell my uncle, who was the family boss, and he said, 'You're crazy!'"Visitors to The Baby'O in Judenau-Baumgarten may have been surprised to find Michael Jackson in the smoking area, but Franz saw it as a great way to promote his club."There were also many bars next to the statue, so there was a party around Jackson," he says. Last year the club was forced to close after a new residential building was built Franz wants to find somebody to open a small cafe or pizzeria at the venue, but needs to get rid of the pop monolith said: "I've been trying to sell it for two years. I would be happy if I get €25,000 (£21,000) for it."I've had some interest from Sweden and some in Hungary, but the problem is people don't have enough money."What if he can't find a buyer? "We don't know. Maybe I'll send it to Mars. Elon will do this for me!" he laughs. A Swiss fairground For more than 50 years, an annual fairground event called Luna Park has taken place in Lausanne, is among these blinking lights and brightly coloured rides that another Jackson statue can be has been given slight refurbishment, with gold paint added to his faux military tell the BBC they bought it 2008 from a man who had purchased it from Sony years statue has not been displayed for a few years, but they do not say why - however they stress it is not for sale. A miniature town in South Africa When Jackson brought his HIStory tour to South Africa, he had one of the 10 statues with Miniland, which opened in Johannesburg in the 1970s to showcase the country in miniature, is now abandoned. Attractions have been removed and the miniature train no longer runs, but a repainted MJ monolith still stands, visible in Google Earth satellite Heather Mason of visited the park in recalls: "It was quite strange to see a giant blue Michael Jackson statue in the middle of Miniland, where the general theme is for things to be smaller than life, not larger than life. "But I certainly appreciated it! The MJ statue was the best photo op in the park." An Italian amusement park A fresh coat of paint and new pair of sunglasses have not made this fibreglass figure too June 2019, Europark Idroscalo Milano unveiled the "restored" statue after a Jackson-themed flash announcer told the gathered crowd: "This statue is dedicated to all of you, who keep on loving him through the years."The dramatic reveal came just months after the Leaving Neverland documentary.A park spokesperson tells the BBC the statue was purchased at the end of the tour but remained abandoned for many years before ending up in the said the titan had its face covered for a while following allegations of child abuse because park owners at the time "did not want to show that MJ welcomed children at the park, so it was transformed almost into a robot".Despite the work to restore and repaint the statue, the park's owners have now put the refurbished statue up for sale.
