People complained about $60 games when that became a thing at the start of Gen 7 after $50 being the standard the previous generation. Nothing new under the sun. Fact is that video game software is still technically cheaper than it's ever been. I was paying $60-70 for N64 games back in the late 90s, when a dollar was worth a lot more. Took upwards of two full shifts working at Walmart to earn enough take-home to buy one. I really didn't give a shit about a lot of games costing $70 when the PS5 & XBS came out, and I don't care about a handful of Switch 2 games costing $80, either.
The real problem right now is the price of hardware. Even accounting for inflation, the PS5 & XBS are the most expensive systems ever for consoles at this point in their lives. Their prices at launch was reasonable, but the entire point of price cuts is to lower the barrier of entry for people unwilling or unable to pay the initial asking price. This decade has been horrible for the hardware market, mostly due to external factors. First there were shortages for PS & Xbox because of COVID. Then there were inflationary pressures caused by Sir Dumbass of Orange's trade wars, "A.I." increasing demand for components, and even the Iran War affecting supply of things necessary for manufacturing of components. Price hikes are now the norm. It's been a decade since we last saw a permanent price cut to a console (when the PS4 & XBO were reduced to $300 in 2016).
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In accordance to the VGC forum rules, §8.5, I hereby exercise my right to demand to be left alone regarding the subject of the effects of the pandemic on video game sales (i.e., "COVID bump").
