EA reveals its first $ 70 Next-Gen game, Madden 21

Electronic Arts has become the latest giant game company to start charging $ 10 more for next-gen games. As part of a larger next-gen reveal for Madden NFL 21, the publisher announced an “NXT LVL” edition of the game for PS5 and Xbox Series X, at a cost of $ 70.

This release also includes “great value add-on” content for the popular map-based online mode Madden Ultimate Team. However, the full content has not been announced.

To be clear, the NXT LVL Edition is a standalone version of Madden 21 for PS5 and Xbox Series X. Anyone who has purchased the game for PS4 and Xbox One can benefit from the next-gen improvements, of which there are many, at no cost. additional. . The only catch is that you have to complete the upgrade before Madden NFL 22 launches in 2021. This version can basically be used as a next-gen or next-gen version of the game for a cheaper price than the next generation. -one version.

The $ 70 NXT LVL Edition is for people who are purchasing Madden 21 for the first time on a next-gen console.

Madden NFL 21 launches for PS5 and Xbox Series X on December 4. It’s the same day that FIFA 21 releases on next-gen consoles, but it’s unclear whether there will be a standalone edition of this game for PS5 and Xbox Series X as well or if it will cost an additional $ 10. .

Earlier in November, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgensen hinted at price increases for its next-gen games, saying a higher price might be needed to offset increases in development costs. Sony and Take-Two are two other big publishers who are following suit.

“We’ve always said that games get more and more expensive. The experience deepens. The time people play games gets longer. You could argue that it might demand a higher price over time. , but we’ll address that as we get closer to more games entering the next-gen console transition, ”Jorgensen said earlier in November, ahead of the PS5 and Xbox Series X releases.

Jorgensen is not the first game executive to point out that the cost of developing the game has increased, and therefore a price increase for the consumer may be in order. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defended NBA 2K21’s $ 70 price tag, saying, “Ultimately, we haven’t seen a frontline price increase in almost 15 years and production costs increased by 200 to 300%. “

Previously, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden pointed out that the cost of game development has increased tenfold, and during that time the price of new games has remained stable at $ 60. “If you don’t have price elasticity, but you have huge volatility on the cost line, the model becomes more difficult. I think this generation is going to see those two imperatives collide,” Layden said. about the new generation. of consoles.

Most recently, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan defended the $ 70 price tag for the PS5 launch game Demon’s Souls. When asked if $ 70 was a reasonable price, Ryan replied, “Yes, yes I do. If you measure the hours of entertainment provided by a video game, like Demon’s Souls versus any other form of entertainment, I think comparison to draw. “

While some major games have raised prices to $ 70 for the next gen, including Demon’s Souls, NBA 2K21, Godfall, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it remains to be seen if more will follow to make $ 70. the new standard.