Gamers Are Now Afraid to Buy Consoles
Would you be willing to pay $1,000 for a game console? The Philips CD-i, which posed this question in 1994, went down in history as an expensive flop. However, in today’s economic climate, talk of similar prices for a new PlayStation 6 or a potential new Xbox raises serious questions for gamers. Even with existing consoles gradually increasing in price, these prices are now becoming a luxury for many gamers.
The $1,000 Console Price Debate Heats Up
A poll on the gaming forum ResetEra quantified these concerns. In the survey of approximately 3,000 gamers, 43% said, “$1,000 is too much; I would never buy it,” while 29% said it would be more prudent to spend that money on a gaming PC. Only 6% said, “I’d be happy with a $1,000 console; I’m already saving.” In short, the vast majority do not even dare to approach the next generation of consoles.
Some users reacted by saying, “If I’m going to spend that much, I’ll build a PC,” while others argued that the convenience offered by consoles is still unparalleled. However, everyone agreed: the “revolution” anticipated during the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S eras has still not arrived. Moreover, even though these consoles were released five years ago, many gamers believe the next-generation experience has “not yet begun.”
Another prominent opinion in the survey’s comments is that “consoles need to get closer to PCs.” Some gamers are open to the idea of a hybrid system, while others are concerned about the loss of consoles’ simplicity. One user summed up the situation by saying, “I can’t be a PC gamer; I’m not used to it. A console is more comfortable. But $1,000? That’s too much.”
The main issue fueling these discussions is technology costs. Advancing hardware, high production costs, and global inflation inevitably push console prices up. However, this increase is also fundamentally changing gamers’ purchasing habits. Many are now considering opting for subscription services or cloud gaming instead of “next-gen.”
While Sony is reportedly targeting a 2027-2028 release date for the PlayStation 6, there’s no official price announcement yet. However, considering the current landscape, buying a game console has become a matter of financial courage, not just technical.
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