Publisher/developer EA confirms it currently has no intention to follow industry-wide price increases, maintaining stability while competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo shift to $80 pricing.
During EA's latest earnings call, CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized prioritizing "exceptional quality and outstanding value for players," citing successes like the 4 million-selling cooperative adventure Split Fiction.
"Our pricing approach has fundamentally evolved over the past decade," Wilson explained. "While physical retail remains part of our business, it's no longer our primary focus. We now operate across a spectrum from free-to-play experiences to premium deluxe editions."
"Whether charging a dollar, ten dollars, or a hundred dollars, our mission remains consistent: deliver outstanding quality that justifies every dollar spent," Wilson continued. "Historical data shows that when we successfully combine quality and value, our business demonstrates sustainable growth."
CFO Stuart Canfield reinforced this position, stating: "Per our financial guidance, we currently foresee no changes to our established pricing strategy."
This decision contrasts sharply with recent industry moves, particularly Microsoft's announced price increases across Xbox hardware and accessories. While software pricing remains unchanged temporarily, analysts anticipate $80 standard pricing for first-party Xbox titles launching late this year.
The announcement arrives amid broader AAA pricing trends seeing a gradual shift from $60 to $70 baseline pricing, with Nintendo preparing $80 releases including anticipated Switch 2 exclusive Mario Kart World. Recent revelations about Nintendo's $450 Switch 2 launch price sparked controversy despite analysts acknowledging economic realities driving this decision.
EA's stance suggests upcoming releases like EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, and Battlefield will maintain their $70 standard edition pricing.
This pricing strategy emerges following recent EA workforce reductions affecting approximately 300 employees, including about 100 positions at Respawn Entertainment, developer of Apex Legends.
