Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been followed by significant price hikes and layoffs, harming both gamers and developers.
As we’ve seen across sectors, increasing market consolidation and increasing prices often go hand-in-hand.
As dominant firms become too-big-to-care, they can make things worse for their customers without having to worry about the consequences.
The dominance of the two largest video game companies affects prices for everyone. High game prices are justified by “just get it on Game Pass,” which normalizes the cost. Now that subscription prices are also rising, developers are left to face investors with unrealistic expectations based on these corporate practices, an issue made worse by weak regulation. Some people may get it but most consumers don’t care until they can’t afford their gotcha game addiction.
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Who cares? Anyone in bed with microsoft or activision deserves all the shit coming their way and then some.
The dominance of the two largest video game companies affects prices for everyone. High game prices are justified by “just get it on Game Pass,” which normalizes the cost. Now that subscription prices are also rising, developers are left to face investors with unrealistic expectations based on these corporate practices, an issue made worse by weak regulation. Some people may get it but most consumers don’t care until they can’t afford their gotcha game addiction.
It doesn’t affect prices for me.
I haven’t bought a video game in years and I don’t plan on starting anytime soon.
It’ll be nice when the leeches bleed the industry dry and we’re only left with people that, you know, actually care about the games.