Microsoft backs down on 80 triple-A games

The top price of new video games is suddenly a hot topic, with many publishers pushing for a higher 80 price tag just a year or two after 70 suddenly became commonplace. Notably, Nintendo's price ceiling for Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World is 80. Microsoft had planned to jump on this particular bandwagon starting with The Outer Worlds 2, but now seems to have reversed course. Back in May, Microsoft had announced that base prices for its biggest games for the 2025 holiday season would be increasing to 80 (or 79.99, if you ask the marketers). Today, The Outer Worlds 2 social accounts announced that it would get a preemptive price cut, down to the current 69.99 standard for new, heavily-promoted triple-A games. Microsoft confirmed to Windows Central that its first-party games for PC and Xbox will remain at the 70 USD level this year, with similar pricing in other markets.