With the highly anticipated multiplayer reveal for Battlefield 6 scheduled for July 31st, and rumors suggesting pre-orders might open on the same day, many players are wondering if EA will set the standard edition`s price at $80. While no official announcement has been made yet, recent statements from EA CEO Andrew Wilson indicate that such a price increase is unlikely.
“We`re not looking to make any changes on pricing at this stage,” Wilson declared during an earnings call, as reported by IGN. He further explained that EA already offers “a fairly broad pricing scheme” across its various titles, which includes free-to-play options, standard paid versions, and deluxe editions.
Wilson emphasized the company`s commitment to diverse pricing: “Our orientation is always to capture the full spectrum of pricing so that we can serve players in the best way possible and offer them the greatest value.” He added that EA will “continue to look at opportunities to deliver great value to our players through various pricing schemes over the course of time, but no dramatic changes planned yet.”
These latest remarks from Wilson are consistent with his previous comments on $80 games made during an earnings call three months ago, so his current stance comes as no surprise.
Despite a recent European leak hinting at a potential €80 ($94 USD) price tag for Battlefield 6`s standard edition, EA has not yet issued any official confirmations. If pre-orders indeed become available on July 31st, more definitive information should emerge soon.
Currently, Nintendo is the only major company to have launched a new game for $80 with Mario Kart World earlier this year. However, players could obtain the game at a perceived discount by purchasing a $500 Switch 2 bundle. Microsoft had also intended to introduce $80 games later this year, starting with The Outer Worlds 2, but subsequently reversed those plans.
One analyst suggests that consumers are ready and willing to pay $80 or more for new games, predicting that any video game publisher confident in its ability to raise prices will eventually do so. As mentioned, beyond Mario Kart World, this hasn`t broadly occurred yet, although the average selling price of new games could exceed $70 when deluxe editions are taken into account. Furthermore, games typically generate revenue through microtransactions, which are also expected to be present in Battlefield 6.
However, not all publishers are increasing their prices. For example, 2K Games is set to release Mafia: The Old Country in August for $50. Parent company Take-Two stated that this decision was made to ensure the game reaches the widest possible audience. Publisher 2K explained that the price point reflects the game`s linear nature, as it is not an open-world title and does not demand a significant time commitment from players. “We think there`s a large audience for compelling stories that don`t require massive time commitments,” 2K affirmed.