Everything's going up in price for gamers
"Market conditions" aka Trump's tariffs likely the main culprit
Console gaming is about to get more expensive. Microsoft recently announced a price hike for Xbox consoles, controllers, and games. From a whopping US$100 increase for the Xbox Series X console to new Xbox games going up by US$10 to US$80 (and matching the revised prices of games for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2), it’s looking ugly for gamers this year.
Microsoft seems to be taking the lead from Sony, which raised prices for its PlayStation 5 console in several countries last month. At the same time, the Japanese company also upped the subscription prices for its PlayStation Plus game service in Southeast Asia, including Singapore.
While Singapore doesn’t seem to be affected by the latest Xbox Series X price hike, the console is currently selling at S$799, up from the original 2020 launch price of S$699. It seems crazy to me that a console that’s almost five years old is becoming more expensive. Especially one that has been outsold by the PS5 (by over 42 million units) and Nintendo Switch (by over 55 million units) so far.
What this tells me is that Microsoft has given up trying to gain market share. It’s simply trying to mitigate the tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed on China, where most game consoles are manufactured.
As for the revised, higher prices for Xbox games, it seems like a win-win move for Microsoft. It can point to Nintendo setting the new benchmark (US$80) for game prices. In addition, higher game prices will make Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription a more attractive option to gamers.
PC gaming, too, has gotten more expensive in recent years. But for every S$100 game, there are more affordable ones that are often even better than some AAA games. For instance, I’m currently spending most of my free time on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (S$59.90 on Steam), which offers a fresh take on turn-based RPGs (and has the most awesome soundtrack). Split Fiction is another fun, critically-acclaimed game (S$64.90). The upcoming Elden Ring spin-off, Nightreign is S$49.90. That’s before we get into more indie titles like Hades II (S$26).
And if you’re like me, you likely have plenty of older games in your backlog. Play those instead, and wait for sales. Don’t get FOMO.
In our latest reviews, we checked out Oppo’s new smartwatch that lasts even longer than before, a Samsung OLED monitor that’s mostly the same as last year’s model, and Mandragora, a Metroidvania/Souls-like mashup.
The Oppo Watch X2 further improves on its predecessor’s excellent battery stamina. The new model now lasts up to five days in the standard Smart Mode, up from four days previously. Other notable upgrades range from a new LTPO display to the premium titanium alloy bezel that makes it look even classier. And the price remains the same as before.
Samsung’s new Odyssey OLED G8 is a bit of a headscratcher. The latest version removes the smart TV functionality, as well as the built-in speakers and remote control. PC monitors typically don’t have smart TV features, so these changes are sensible. But Samsung hasn’t added anything new, not even a USB-C port, while the monitor specs remain almost unchanged.
If you love Metroidvania and Souls-like games, you will love Mandragora, which borrows elements from these two styles. Of course, you’ll die a lot, but if you put in the work, you’ll find this game very rewarding. It’s a 40-hour long game with six unique classes, a fun crafting system, and a huge map to explore. That’s plenty of content for a S$38 game.