Gaming as a hobby is becoming increasingly expensive. This isn't just a feeling that many consumers have. An industry analyst even warns of a possible two-tier society in video games. Even the new Xbox chief spoke internally about how the in-house offering Game Pass has become too expensive. It was an unusual admission.
Valve raised prices for certain models of its gaming console hybrid Steam Deck just a few weeks ago, Sony previously increased the price for the PlayStation 5 again, and Nintendo recently announced that the Switch 2 will cost more in Europe starting September 1, 2026. All manufacturers state that this is related to the economic situation and the price development of hardware components. Valve wrote in late May about "increased costs for labor and data storage" as well as "other global logistical challenges [...] affecting the entire consumer electronics industry".
Video games themselves also seem to be getting more expensive. The hit "Pokémon Pokopia", for example, has been providing plenty of gaming enjoyment since early March, but the digital version costs around 70 euros in the official Nintendo Store without a discount. In stores, the manufacturer's suggested retail price for the physical version is even nearly 80 euros, according to retailers.
Such amounts for games are related to many factors. The development of video games that large teams work on has become very costly, the work often takes many years, plus there's the current economic situation, sometimes huge marketing budgets, and more. This is also no consolation for end customers who likewise have to watch their spending. In recent years, the industry has repeatedly reported layoffs of numerous employees and studio closures, citing all of this. Currently, there is concern that another major wave of layoffs could occur soon. US media such as "IGN" report a feared "bloodbath".
First More Expensive, Then Cheaper, and Finally Something Different?
Ironically, Xbox itself recently also considered its in-house game flat-rate service Game Pass too expensive. In an internal memo leaked to the US portal "The Verge", the new head of Microsoft's gaming division, Asha Sharma, admitted in April 2026: "In the short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation." It further stated that in the long term, they want to "evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system", though testing this will require time. The current model is not final.
With the memo, Sharma addressed a negative sentiment in the gaming scene that has been escalating. Microsoft had raised subscription prices multiple times. About a week after the internal memo became public, the company then officially announced an update and lowered the price of Game Pass Ultimate from around 27 euros to just under 21 euros monthly. The PC Game Pass also became two euros cheaper. In return, future games in the "Call of Duty" series will no longer be available directly on Game Pass at launch. A public statement mentioned that they supposedly want to "continue listening and learning". There is "no single model that is best for everyone, but with this change we are taking into account the feedback we have received so far".
Is Gaming Becoming a Hobby for the Rich?
For the average person, the concern is probably less about jobs being lost in the gaming industry. The much bigger question is: Is gaming currently becoming a two-tier society? The magazine "PC Gamer" described the phenomenon last March with the image of a K-shaped economic development. At the top are wealthy people who can financially recover after a crisis or perhaps are even better off; at the bottom are those who remain poor or become even poorer. Applied to this context, one could view it as: At the top, well-off players who can afford expensive full-price titles for 80 euros; at the bottom, those who have to make do with free-to-play titles or significantly discounted offers.
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella was particularly blunt. In a conversation with the print magazine "Edge", quoted by "PC Gamer", he described video games as increasingly a hobby for the rich. "A larger portion of the market is falling to people who are wealthier and have higher incomes, while the lower-income parts of the market are really struggling. The premium gaming sector is increasingly relying on the wealthy consumer."
A whole segment of the market is being left to titles like "Fortnite", "Roblox", "Minecraft", or mobile games. The insidious and somewhat absurd thing about it: Those who turn to supposedly free games often end up paying anyway - not all at once, but in small increments through microtransactions. The bottom line, according to observations, is that less wealthy people might ultimately spend even more than paying customers.
How to Save Money While Gaming
Piscatella noted that console manufacturers have simply let such a development happen so far, instead of also bringing generally cheaper games to the forefront, as on PC. Particularly there, there has been a flourishing indie gaming scene in recent years. Individual developers, independent studios, and small publishers are constantly implementing extraordinary ideas. At often significantly lower prices, they offer gaming experiences that, while frequently unable to match the visual bombast of major productions, nevertheless shine with moving stories or special gameplay mechanics.
One way to get gaming supplies relatively inexpensively is, for example, offerings like the long-established "Humble Bundle". In the video game sector, the provider mainly distributes keys that can be redeemed on the well-known PC platform Steam. After entering the code, the corresponding game is unlocked for one's library. There are game packages, so-called bundles, that often focus on specific themes, publishers, or development studios. "Humble Choice" is additionally a subscription for just under 13 euros per month that can be paused and canceled at any time. Even after cancellation, you still have access to the games redeemed on Steam, unlike with Game Pass. A comparable provider for bundles is "Fanatical".
Additionally, there are platforms like "IsThereAnyDeal", where you can get an overview of currently offered discounts or directly search for current prices of specific titles. Players should also keep an eye on general discount campaigns, such as seasonal sales - regardless of platform. Those who want to play major titles and can be patient will find many of them at significantly reduced prices after a certain time.
