The gaming industry is in the midst of a pricing revolution as major publishers continue to raise the prices of their flagship titles. With games like EA and Sony setting the precedent with $70 price tags, Nintendo has followed suit with the release of “The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom Tears” at the same price point.
Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, expressed his concerns about the sustainability of the $70 price point in an interview with IGN. He noted that as development costs continue to rise, consumers may start to question whether higher prices equate to higher quality. Karch pointed to the mixed reception of games like Cybertron as a cautionary tale of the risks involved in investing large sums of money in development.
Despite the industry trend towards higher prices, Karch emphasized that Saber Interactive is focused on finding ways to deliver quality games without breaking the bank. He highlighted the success of “Battlefield 2” as an example of a game that found a middle ground between cost and quality.
Looking ahead, Karch believes that artificial intelligence technology could play a key role in reducing development costs and improving game quality. Saber Interactive is currently working on “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remastered Edition” and Karch reassured fans that the game is still in development, despite the recent separation of the development team from Embracer Group.
As the gaming industry grapples with the challenge of balancing cost and quality, developers like Saber Interactive are exploring innovative solutions to meet the demands of gamers without breaking the bank. Ultimately, the future of game development may hinge on finding a sustainable middle ground that satisfies both developers and consumers alike.