Famitsu predicts PS3 game prices of $70-$80…in Japan

by Ross Miller { Aug 31st 2005 at 3:30PM }

Let's just hope the actual meaning got lost in translation somewhere (it did, sort of). GameGeekNews is reporting that Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Enterbrain (who publish everyone's favorite overseas magazine, Famitsu) spoke at the CESA Developers Conference. He believes that all next-generation games will see a price increase, and pointed out that he believes PlayStation 3 games will be in the price range of 7,800 to 8,800 YEN, or $70 to $79 in the U.S. when calculated.

While this is a bit on the scary side, 1up is quick to point out (and justly so) that games in general cost more in Japan anyways - you have to pay almost $70 for a PlayStation 2 game over there. So in Japan, Hamamura is expecting an increase of $10. So will we see $60 PlayStation 3 games in the States? Quite possibly, but that was already expected. It is still outrageous, but nothing to cry over too much.

[Thanks, Dan]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ryan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Ha Ha

jc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

economics... sigh

Don't forget to add the increasing costs of shipping and transportation. We might see $80-100 games before you know it.

Matt @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

can someone say neo-geo?

CapAmerica @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Hello PC, Did you miss me?

nick @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

if the ps3 games are 70-80 dollars i am pretty sure i will go with the 360 instead. unless theres a way to mod the ps3's then i will stick with that.

Todd @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

The price gouging has made me sick of gaming, at these prices I'll come up with another hobby.

I mean, I can barely cover the costs of gas these days, how do they expect the average person to afford any of this?

Unless they are counting on all of the dumb people that charge, charge, charge...(Visa is probably loving these prices, more interest for them)

someone @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

wow, $80 just for a game is outrageous, if converted in canadian cash thats around $100 a game and that basically means buying only a few game could be the price of what the whole console is worth and that is just unfair. if thats those are the real prices, i will stay out of the next generation gaming console or maybe every generation if the prices will increase every generation. before you know it, there will be $150 - $200 games just because their next generation.

Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Game prices are already supposedly in that range already.

Anyone who lives in Japan can tell you that the prices don't stay there EVER. Even with the LE bundled goodies, you'll see the prices on the games brand-new first day in Akihabara for $6-$10 less than the MSRP. Wait 3 days, and you'll find pristine used copies on the shelves for $3-$5 less than the new prices.

The numbers over there don't correspond to the market here, and likewise they don't correspond to the ones in Europe or Australia.

Brokxs @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

everything is expensive in japan . A melon is 18 bucks . a box of four white peaches in okayama is 16 bucks. smokes and booze are cheap wooo hooo. a dvd is 40 bucks . a cd is 25 . everything . A ps3 will be the best console to date , if a 80 disc is the cost to play , the best game then deal with is. fools pay 15 bucks a month to play world of warcraft

Kris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

In Europe we pay prices between 55 and 70 euro's for a PS2 game. Multiply by 1,2 and you'll get the price in dollars.
SO calling a price of $60 outrageous is exactly what we have been doing for the last ten years. I expect that prices of PS2 games will drop with the arrival of the PS3 just like the prices dropped for the original playstation when the PS2 arrived. aNd I hope they won't ask more for PS3 games than the current prices of PS2 games. I understand that the cost of development is higher. But if the price is too high this will lead to less sales and to alternatives. (Look at the music industry. They promised us lower prices with the arrival of the cd-format but infact prices have increased with 30% over the last 20 years. Now they are fighting huge lawsuits against piracy. I'm a bit afraid that the gameindustry is heading the same way)The price of an album on cd has never dropped infact in Belgium. I am certain there are numerous studies by Sony, Ms, and Nintendo about finding the right price for their products. I wish game developers would be willing to take more risks to offer their products at a more available price. Lower prices will increase sales and these sales will indirectly promote other games of these developers.
Talking about prices wouldn't it be nice to just buy updates of games. Instead of buying the next installment of tiger woods or PES or fifa. You just have to pay for the update. I understand that is more than an update. But really is it worth the full price if you have the previous version. Look for instance to Tony hawk 2. I played untill I found every gap. THPS3 I only played till I unlocked all the levels. Tony hawk underground I played only for a few hours.
Really I would have loved that TOny Hawk 2 came out again with updated graphics.

sieth @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

ha well in japan games are always expensive when they come out, but they drop rather fast for the most part unless it is an rpg. I remember when dragon quest 8 came out it was selling for like 8600 yen.Stayed that way too for quite a while, I eventually gave in an bought it too. If you really want to play it eventually you will give in and cough the cash up. I wouldnt worry about the prices in japan they are always way more expensive then the rest of the world for games. Been like that all the way back to the orginal nintendo