KUALA LUMPUR: Video gaming is beginning to reclaim its status as a “luxury hobby” following a series of price hikes announced this week.
Grand Theft Auto VI, the most anticipated modern action-adventure game of this gaming generation, will retail at US$79.99 for the standard edition on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
That works out to about RM339 at current exchange rates – enough to buy 73 packets of nasi lemak or 33 double-special Ramly beef burgers.
It is hardly cheap in the current economy, yet many users on social media have justified the higher price for a game that has yet to be released.
The last major title to break the long-standing US$59.99 price point was last year’s Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Steam has also announced pricing for its upcoming PC-console hybrid, the Steam Machine. The 512GB base model without a controller will retail at US$1,049, or about RM4,352, roughly the price of a mid-range desktop gaming PC. That is also equivalent to about 484 plates of roasted chicken rice from your favourite local hawker centre.
Microsoft is also raising prices for its Xbox Series X|S consoles from August. The 1TB Xbox Series X, the cheapest model in the range, will cost US$749.99, or around RM3,089.
The sharp rise in hardware prices is being driven by higher component, memory and storage costs as AI infrastructure expansion continues to squeeze supply. The situation has been compounded by global tariffs, trade policies and broader macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures that continue to disrupt supply chains and weaken purchasing power.
Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia are equally affected because consumers pay based on prevailing exchange rates. Console prices are also expected to continue rising into 2027, with Nintendo’s Switch 2 likely to see another price increase next year once it has established its intended install base.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 could also become more expensive despite recent comments by the company’s chief executive that region-locked PS5 units remain relatively affordable. Like every other major manufacturer, Sony is not immune to global RAM shortages, rising component costs and tariffs.
So where does that leave consumers?
While buying a new console will become increasingly expensive, building a custom PC or purchasing a pre-built ITX mini gaming PC may prove to be a better long-term option in Southeast Asia.
At the very least, games that are neither Grand Theft Auto titles nor published by major blockbuster studios are unlikely to exceed the US$50 price point. Consumers may also be better off waiting for inevitable discounts on big-budget releases.
Players should also think twice before accepting US$80 – or even US$70 – as the new standard price for triple-A games. Accepting those prices risks encouraging bloated development and publishing cycles that ultimately make developers more disposable while enriching executives.
Short Beats
Sony is laying off most of the Destiny team at Bungie and “some” Marathon developers following the conclusion of Destiny 2’s ongoing content. Bungie studio head Justin Truman has also stepped down following the layoffs.
The towns surrounding Japan’s Mount Yotei have launched a tourism campaign aimed at attracting fans of PlayStation’s Ghost of Yotei.
Arc System Works and UnitePlus will release a new tactical, counter-focused role-playing game, Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow, for PC, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on Sept 24.
Op-Ed
We discuss the Persona 4 remake and the recent Persona 5 Big Band concert in Malaysia, and whether the future of the Japanese role-playing game series remains bright.
We also went hands-on with Star Wars: Galactic Racer, the new Star Wars racing game.
Games Out This Week
Episode 5 of Deltarune, the ongoing role-playing game from Undertale creator Toby Fox, is out now.
Star Fox (2026) is a remake of Star Fox 64 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, featuring all-new graphics, cutscenes and the same arcade-style space shooter gameplay fans know and love. Only slightly worse.
Recommended Viewing
Content creator Austin Eruption has produced an entertaining yet insightful video on rare and expensive video games whose prices have been driven up by speculation and inflation. Many of the games featured are considered average, yet command eye-watering prices because of the platforms and physical media they are tied to.
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