Over the past few years, the average price of new AAA video games has increased from $59.99 to $69.99 USD, largely due to higher development costs and inflation. Subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra, and EA Play have also changed how players think about value — instead of buying individual games, many now pay a monthly fee for access to a large library. Meanwhile, microtransactions and battle passes in free-to-play games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone have created alternative revenue streams for publishers. On PC, platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG often run frequent discounts, leading players to expect lower prices after launch.