Recommended Free Tools
Michael Douse, Larian Studios’ publishing director, argued in August 2024 that most games should cost more at base level because development costs—including inflation—were outpacing game-price trends. But he was not calling for one higher price across the industry: he said prices should reflect a game’s quality, breadth and depth, and that clear communication matters more than vague DLC promises.
Who said games should cost more, and why?
Douse made the argument in an August 26, 2024 discussion prompted by the expensive Ultimate Edition of Star Wars Outlaws. In a statement reproduced by GameSpot, he wrote: “Almost all games should cost more at a base level because the cost of making them (inflation, for one) is outpacing pricing trends.”
His reasoning was qualitative: production costs were rising faster than prices, in his view. The cited coverage does not provide an audited development-cost figure or a quantified inflation statistic to measure that gap.
He argued for value-based pricing, not a uniform increase
Douse tied a game’s price to its quality, breadth and depth. “I think a game should be priced accordingly with its quality, breadth & depth. I’m not against higher prices, but this arbitrary uniformity just doesn’t make sense to me. It feels so unserious,” he said in a post dated August 26, 2024, reproduced by GamesRadar+.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- Online multiplayer for up to four players - allows you to combine your forces in combat, and split your party to follow your own quests and agendas. Concoct the perfect plan together… or introduce an element of chaos when your friends least expect it
- Origin Character - offer a hand-crafted experience, each with their own unique traits, agenda, and outlook on the world. Their stories intersect with the entire narrative, and your choices will determine whether those stories end in redemption, salvation, domination, or many other outcomes
- Evolved turn-based combat - based on the D&D 5e ruleset. Team-based initiative, advantage & disadvantage, and roll modifiers join combat cameras, expanded environmental interactions, and a new fluidity in combat that rewards strategy and foresight
- Define the future of the Forgotten Realms - through your choices, and the roll of the dice. No matter who you play, or what you roll, the world and its inhabitants will react to your story
- Player-initiated turn-based mode - allows you to pause the world around you at any time even outside of combat. Whether you see an opportunity for a tactical advantage before combat begins, want to pull off a heist with pin-point precision, or need to escape a fiendish trap. Split your party, prepare ambushes, sneak in the darkness -- create your own luck!
That distinction matters: his argument was not that every game should move to the same higher price bracket. It was that price should correspond to what a particular game offers, rather than follow an arbitrary industry-wide convention.
Why did Larian price Baldur’s Gate 3 below its value?
Douse said he priced both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 below their value because he cared about people’s cost of living and trusted Larian to recoup its costs. He also said the Collector’s Editions were priced far below what the studio could have charged. His comments describe the reasoning behind those decisions, not a claim that every game can or should use the same approach.
Rank #2
![NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dWUfwFl5L._SL160_.jpg)
- 1205504
- High-quality material
- Durable
- robustness
Why did he object to DLC promises and premium editions?
Douse said higher prices should be supported by quality and communication, not vague promises of future content. The criticism, also covered by MP1st, was aimed at pricing structures that make a premium edition appear more attractive through unclear add-ons or future-content promises. For players comparing editions, his principle is straightforward: look for content that is specifically described, rather than treating a broad DLC promise as proof of value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was GTA 6 expected to set a new game-price standard?
That was speculation in 2024 coverage, not an announced Rockstar pricing decision. GameSpot described the industry as watching Grand Theft Auto VI as a possible price-setting test, and Douse’s reproduced comment ended with a joke that “Everyone’s just waiting for GTA6 to do it lol.” MP1st reported at the time that the game’s price had not been announced. Those reports are historical context, not confirmation of a current price or future industry standard.
Rank #3
- Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI.
- Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes and character interactions, additional voiceover, and a reloaded soundtrack.
- Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters.
- Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
What the $70 price-point discussion meant in 2024
GameSpot described $70 as the then-current standard price point for major new releases, associating the shift with the late-2020 launch of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. That was the outlet’s historical description in August 2024, not a current survey of game prices. Douse’s argument challenged the relationship between rising production costs and pricing trends; it did not supply an independently verified industry cost model.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
