Baldur’s Gate 3 publishing director says “almost all games should cost more at a base level” because they cost so much to make

Baldur’s Gate 3 publishing director Michael Douse has raised concerns about video game pricing, stating that prices have not kept up with inflation in certain markets, especially considering the costs of developing blockbuster games like Star Wars Outlaws.

Douse highlighted the Ultimate Edition of the new Ubiworld game Outlaws, which includes the base game, season pass content, and collector’s items, suggesting that special editions like these artificially increase prices without being transparent about it.

He emphasized the need for games to be priced based on their quality, scope, and depth, rather than using special editions to inflate prices. Douse also mentioned that the industry needs to be more honest about the need to charge more for games due to rising development costs.

Other industry figures, like Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick and Capcom’s president Harushiro Tsujimoto, have also commented on the disparity between game development costs and pricing trends, advocating for potential price increases to reflect the rising costs of game production.

While some publishers are considering price adjustments, others are exploring options for mid-tier blockbuster games that offer a premium experience at a more reasonable cost.