Microtransaction prices, not game prices, could increase in 2026

Ampere Analysis analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believes that game prices may not increase beyond $70 in 2026, but in-game purchases might get bumped.

Microtransaction prices, not game prices, could increase in 2026
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Senior Gaming Editor
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TL;DR: Video game base prices are expected to remain at $70 in 2026, but in-game microtransactions may see price increases as publishers seek higher revenue amid rising costs and market pressures. Subscription models and cosmetic bundles could become key areas for monetization growth without raising game MSRP.

Video game prices aren't expected to increase in 2026, but microtransactions might be a different story.

Microtransaction prices, not game prices, could increase in 2026 3333
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In-game purchases could get a price hike next year as the games industry seeks greater shareholder returns. The market is currently stressed due to consumer spending habits, rising software and hardware production costs, and economic unknowns like tariffs and trade disruptions. As a result, big players like Microsoft have conducted three price increases throughout 2025 alone--two Xbox Series MSRP bumps and a $10 increase to Game Pass.

Software, however, has stayed at $70 (which in itself is a relatively new baseline price that was set just five years ago). Ampere Analysis analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believes that games will stay at $70 throughout 2026, but Nintendo's new $80 price ceiling could give companies more wiggle room.

From our survey conducted in 2023, gamers shared that they believe $70 is too much for new game pricing.
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From our survey conducted in 2023, gamers shared that they believe $70 is too much for new game pricing.

"Do I expect base game sales to go up again in 2026? No, I don't think so. But there is already some room in the market for AAA titles to shift to $80 if required," Harding-Rolls told GamesIndustry.biz.

Publishers and developers could instead charge more for in-game cosmetics, bundles, currencies, etc. This way there's no harsh sticker shock associated with new software and consumers aren't deterred by a higher-than-normal MSRP.

"As [in-app purchases] are where most spending is generated across the entire games market, there could be further inflation in this part of the monetisation mix. Generally, I think it's easier to alter the value of an IAP bundle and a price increase on a cheap bundle is easier to implement without undermining gamer sentiment."

Some game-makers have organized their software catalogs and live services into a kind of hybridized subscription; Rockstar Games' GTA+ subscription comes to mind, as it offers GTA Online content as well as access to past titles from the studio.