Let me be blunt – gaming is getting even more expensive, and it’s got me worried. Ever since the introduction of President Trump’s new wave of tariffs, things have gone from bad to worse. Some Nintendo Switch 2 games are climbing to $80, accessories cost more than ever, and now Xbox has decided to raise prices on both the Series X and Series S. Oh, and don’t forget their first-party games are jumping to $80, too. This comes not long after Sony raised prices on the PlayStation 5 digital version in some regions. It’s starting to feel like gaming is slowly pricing itself out of reach.
So, what does this mean for gaming as we know it? Or maybe the better question is – what does this mean for the next generation of consoles and the players who still care about them?
That said, before you go any further, this article is speculation and facts based on what I’ve observed. You’re perfectly fine to disagree, but if you do happen to disagree, maybe leave a reason why in the comments.
Tariffs Are Wrecking the Landscape
These tariffs – some as high as 145% – are aimed at goods from countries like China and Japan, and they’ve caused a ripple effect across the gaming world. Microsoft might say it’s due to “market conditions” or “rising development costs,” but let’s be real – the tariffs are a massive part of the equation. They just aren’t saying the quiet part out loud.
And the result? Console prices are going up. Game prices are going up. Accessory prices are going up. And it’s only going to get worse.
Let’s do some quick math: A new Xbox Series X now costs $600, three first-party Xbox titles at $80 each ($240 total), and just one or two accessories like a controller or headset – easily another $100+. That’s over $900 just to get started. That’s not a hobby anymore – that’s a luxury buy.
Also, adding this before someone says “Just get Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus,” because there’s always someone who says that. By raising prices and then “recommending” a subscription service is not the answer, it’s a stopgap. It’s another way to get more money out of you. Also, will you keep recommending Game Pass or PlayStation Plus if they continue to jack up the prices? Maybe you will, but I can wager that most won’t.
Controllers have gotten more expensive as well. A standard Xbox controller now costs $70, while those limited or special edition variants we all love? They’re going for $80 or even $90, respectively. That’s just one accessory, and it adds up fast. If spending that much just to game becomes the new norm, how many people are actually going to stay invested in console gaming?
I’m worried that if things don’t change, the next generation of consoles could be priced completely outside of some people’s budgets. With the Nintendo Switch 2 already launching at $450 and $499, depending on the model, and both PlayStation and Xbox raising prices on five-year-old hardware, what’s stopping them from pricing the next consoles at $700, $800, or more?
Traditionally, companies sell consoles at a loss and make it up through software sales. But when the hardware is priced higher right out of the gate – and those costs are passed onto consumers – then what? Would you buy a $700 console? $800? Sure, this is all speculation on my part, but it’s not exactly far-fetched either, given what we’ve already seen.
And even then, let’s say these tariffs magically disappear and everything goes back to “normal.” Do we actually think these companies are going to roll prices back? Or will greed take the wheel, and we just stay stuck with these higher prices?
Let’s be honest here – even without the tariffs, it felt like these companies were already preparing to raise prices. The tariffs just gave them a perfect excuse. It’s both a legitimate reason and the perfect scapegoat.
What People Are Saying in the Real World
I talked to about 30 people while I was in line at GameStop to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2, and opinions were all over the place.
Some folks didn’t care much – they only buy a few games a year, so $80 wasn’t a big deal to them. Others were ticked off. They said they’ve already started shifting to PC – either building desktops, gaming on laptops, or using a Steam Deck or ROG Ally. Then some people just looked defeated. They said they weren’t sure if they’d even bother upgrading to the next-gen consoles when the time comes, and if $80 games become standard? Forget it. They’ll be buying way less. One person said they’d stop gaming altogether, though I wasn’t sure if I believed them or not.
All this goes to show that even if they aren’t saying anything on social media or don’t have a place to voice their opinions, people are getting frustrated over the rising price of gaming.
PC Gaming Isn’t the Safe Haven People Think
Sure, a lot of folks are looking at PC gaming as an escape route – but don’t think it’s immune. Hardware was already pricey, and now with tariffs in place, it’s going to get worse. Nvidia GPUs? Already overpriced, and they were already super hard to get hold of. Now they’re going to climb even higher. And don’t think CPUs from Intel or AMD are safe, either. Everything’s getting hit.
So yeah, you might get more flexibility with a PC, but if you were hoping to build or upgrade your rig without blowing your budget, that may seem harder than you think it would.
It’s a Mess, and It’s Just Getting Started
Gaming used to be that one thing you could count on to take your mind off the chaos of the world. But now, even that feels uncertain. Whether you’re into consoles or PC, the cost of just playing is skyrocketing, and a lot of it comes down to these economic policies that keep hitting the industry hard.
If things don’t change soon, I wouldn’t be surprised if a huge chunk of gamers decide they’ve had enough. And honestly? I wouldn’t blame them.
That said, I’d love to know what you think about it all. Leave a comment so we can discuss this, because we’re all being affected. If you want to reach out to me directly, do so at Keith.Mitchell@theouterhaven.net.
