On CNBC last night, Sony CEO Jack Tretton implied that games for the company's newly-announced PlayStation 4 won't retail for more than $60.

"We're gonna welcome free-to-play models, games from 99 cents up to those 60 dollar games," he said. Later, he added: "We'll justify that $60 price point."

That might come as welcome news to gamers who expected another $10 price jump like the one we saw last generation, when $50 PS2 games led way to $60 PS3 games. But is a $60 price point really sustainable?

When in doubt, ask the federal government. Check this out: according to the U.S. department of labor's inflation calculator, $60 in 2006 would have the spending power of $68.54 in 2013. And if the PS4 is around for the next 5 or 6 years, that number could just keep growing and growing. A $60 price point in 2013 really means that games are now cheaper.

So yes, $60 PlayStation 4 games are actually cheaper than $60 PlayStation 3 games. Which means we shouldn't be too excited just yet. Big video game publishers will inevitably find other ways to make up the bottom line, which may mean more downloadable content packs, more subscription fees, and more sneaky ways to get you to pay more for video games.

Not to be bleak. But hey, Chrono Trigger, which ran for $80 back in 1995 (according to an old buyer's guide I just found on Nexis), might cost $120.88 in 2013. At least we're not there yet.

http://kotaku.com/5986208/if-ps4-games-only-cost-60-theyre-actually-cheaper-than-ps3-games

It's the same price plus the games are cheaper to developer to PS4 than PS3.

So since Wii U came out last year it has those older $60 games, not the new $60 games. So PS4 games are cheaper than Wii U games confirmed!

Wouldn't the retail price ultimately be up to the publishers to decide? I doubt Sony really has the ability to tell EA or Activision "hey you can't charge more than $60 for this". If anything Sony and MS are at the mercy of third parties.

Ah. See the mistake you're making here is; assuming that yourself and professional journalists have something in common. They're called professional for a reason.

Glad to be of service ;)

Remember the later days of the PS2 life cycle, after it got done kicking ass and taking names? Sony started releasing first party games at $39.99. PS2 was the King of Kings in the gaming industry. That is why it is best for one console to rule the roost.

As for $59.99 PS4 games, sounds like a great deal to me. I just wish the industry would have a better pricing tier on games. Some games are worth $60 some are worth 50,40,30, ect., it is getting better, but there is still room for improvement. I think a lot less devs would have went under if they would have placed their under delivering games at prices people were willing to pay for them.

this

and no one knows the difference until the price visibly go's up.

So when Watch Dogs comes out on both PS3 and PS4 later this year, both at the same price, the PS4 version will be "cheaper"? LOL, that's Sony logic for ya!