It looks like we won’t be seeing another $10 increase on video games like we did last generation, as Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton revealed to CNBC.
"I think people are willing to pay if they see value there and I think there's more choice than ever before for consumers. We're going to welcome free-to-play models; games from 99 cents up to those $60 games," said Tretton.
This opens up a world of choice for gamers, and puts a lot of uneasy fans’ worries to rest. Paying $70 for one game sounds pretty outrageous, and we’re not sure what would happen if a company actually decided to chase that number. There would either be fallout for the company, or consumers would continue buying into games.
Tretton was also asked about his feelings concerning the mobile market and its possible encroachment of console gaming, which many feel has become a very real and sizeable threat.
"They demystify gaming; they bring people in with a bite-sized gaming experience. But ultimately, I think people migrate up the food chain. Conversely, if you're somebody who considers themself a true gamer and wants to play the most powerful devices and the most deep and rich gaming experiences, you're not going to find yourself migrating down the food chain other than to maybe kill some time or to complement that core gaming experience."
Tretton may be right, but with such a convergence of media happening – computers, smart phones and consoles – his less than fervent attitude towards competitors may prove dastardly.
With the Playstation 4 due out this holiday season and possible price points of both $299 and $430, we’re excited about anything Sony that hits the air these days. An Inside Network analyst, Billy Pidgeon, has revealed that he thinks the price point of $299 would be a “magic” number for Sony.
