In the current generation of consoles, some things that were almost a certainty change a lot, such as the price of AAA games. The industry and major studios make the decision to increase prices from a 60- to 70-dollar standard.
According to the CEO of Saber Interactive, Matthew Karch, this could be a thing of the past for upcoming games as developers are looking to reduce costs and risk, making every title less expensive for players. Karch mentioned this in a recent interview, during which he also discussed the Embracer Group.
Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, Makes a Very Interesting Analysis of the Current State of the Video Game Business
With titles like World War Z, Timeshift, Ghostbusters, and the upcoming Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, Saber Interactive has made a pretty good reputation in the last couple of years. This studio and distributor keep growing and have become one of the most successful developers inside the Embracer Group. This company has many projects in the near future, and with that in mind, the CEO of this developer has talked about how the business is right now.
Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, had an interview with IGN and talked about how the studios will make some real changes to gain the players trust back. He mentioned that Space Marine 2 is worth 70 dollars, but due to its current market price, he fears that if he lowers the game’s price, players may perceive it as lacking AAA quality.
I think that as games become more expensive to make, the $70 title is going to go the way of the dodo [bird]. I do. I just don’t think it’s sustainable
However, he is optimistic that this perception will soon change.
The Future of Video Games Will Seemingly be Very Different
The CEO also said the following:
I think the market is going to shift to development which is not necessarily lower quality, but there’s going to be an emphasis on trying to find ways to reduce costs.
He referred to how Helldivers 2 was a cheaper game but very popular until today, making it the perfect example of how to do things to earn players’ trust. Cyberpunk 2077 was a good example of how not to manage fan expectations, he said.
This executive is really convinced that the industry will make a big shift to make games cheaper, reduce risk, and go away from sky-high budgets that do not help the industry at all. He also added, “I think that there’s going to be a real shortage of game content over the coming few years.” Karch referred to the numerous layoffs and how all the major companies are going through a restructuring.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 will be available on September 9 after several delays. This game will be a third-person shooter with a lot of violence and action, which is ideal for fans of the franchise. The PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC will receive the release of the title. Saber Interactive has also confirmed a Collector’s Edition that will have a giant statue of the Marine with his iconic weapon.
What are your thoughts about Karch’s words? Let us know in the comments!
