In a recent financial call with investors, EA has firmly stated that it will not be following the trend set by Microsoft and Nintendo in raising the price of its games to $80. CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the company's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value" to its player base, a strategy exemplified by the success of its co-op adventure game Split Fiction, which has now sold an impressive 4 million copies.
Wilson elaborated on the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting a significant shift from traditional retail sales of physical copies to a more diverse pricing structure. "In a world where everything we did 10 years ago was about selling shiny discs in plastic boxes on retail shelves — well, that's still a *part* of our business, but it's a significantly smaller part," he said. Today, EA's offerings span from free-to-play models to deluxe editions, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences and budgets.
"At the end of the day, whether we're doing something that costs a dollar, or we're doing something that costs $10, or we're doing something that costs $100, our objective is always to deliver incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase," Wilson reiterated. He stressed that the company's ability to combine quality and value has led to a strong, resilient, and growing business.
CFO Stuart Canfield added that EA's current pricing strategy remains unchanged, indicating no plans for price hikes in the near future.
This announcement comes as welcome news for gamers, especially in light of Microsoft's recent decision to increase Xbox prices, including controllers, headsets, and some games. Microsoft's price adjustments have already taken effect, with new first-party games expected to be priced at $79.99 around the holiday season.
The gaming industry has seen a general increase in game prices, with AAA titles jumping from $60 to $70 over the last five years. Nintendo has also announced $80 pricing for upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 Edition games. The Switch 2 itself is set to launch at $450, a decision that has sparked debate among fans, though analysts argue it may be inevitable due to current economic conditions.
Given EA's stance, fans can expect the next iterations of EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield to maintain the $70 standard edition pricing.
This news follows a report from IGN last week, which disclosed that EA had cut approximately 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, along with broader layoffs affecting around 300 individuals across the organization.
