9-in-10 US gamers believe a new video game should cost less than $60, G2A survey reveals

A new study commissioned by G2A.COM, the world’s largest digital marketplace for gamers and geeks, reveals how much US gamers are willing to pay to play. The survey, undertaken by global research company Censuswide, examines the opinions and behaviours of gamers from across the states. 9-in-10 of those surveyed believe a new game should cost less than $60, with all of those surveyed agreeing that $60+ is an unfair price for a single game.

With several publishers reportedly expressing intentions to raise game prices over the past few months, the survey highlights the significant contrast between the hopes of industry and those of the gaming society. According to 59% of respondents gaming has become too expensive. What is more, the findings also show that nearly half of gamers think they spend more on games (48%) and gaming in general (45%) than it should cost, with respondents of all ages supporting this statement.

However, while the survey unveils a serious discrepancy between gamer’s opinions and publisher’s intentions, the figures also highlight that gaming spending isn’t showing signs of decline, but rather a shift in the way money are being used by gamers. When looking into different costs, figures show that more gamers (38%) spend extra and more often on in-game purchases, when compared to those that spend the same amount on new titles (29%) – a trend which has helped to reduce inflationary pressures on the upfront purchase price of AAA+ games, whilst delivering sustainable after-purchase revenues for publishers.

Online gaming debt is on the rise as younger are being outpriced by gaming

G2A.COM research also reveals some worrying figures about spending habits across US, with online gaming increasingly becoming a source of financial hardship for some. Over a third (35%) of respondents admit they have gone into debt in order to pay for gaming hardware, setup or titles, with some owing up to $1000. Only half of those surveyed say they use money from their salary to finance their gaming hobby, while half state they often dip into their savings or use a credit card when making a purchase.

The dangers of falling into debt are bigger for junior gamers, with 41% of respondents stating that younger people are being outpriced by gaming. More than a third (39%) of those aged between 16 – 24 say they have spent between $200 and $1000 on gaming setup, while one in four of those admit that they don’t tell their parents or partner about all the money they spend on gaming.

Bartosz Skwarczek, CEO and co-founder of G2A commented: “Gone are the days when all that gamers needed to invest in to enjoy their hobby was a single Gameboy and a Super Mario Land. Nowadays, the notion of this hobby has shifted to such an extent that being able to afford to truly experience what the world of gaming has to offer is considered a luxury – with the wealthier benefiting from a well-established pay to play system.

Gamers shouldn’t need to fall into debt to be an active part of the community. This is a vision G2A is relentlessly working towards – to make gaming more accessible by offering a safe, secure and affordable online experience for all.”

Revealing how much gamers are willing to pay to play, G2A.COM study highlights that a quarter of gamers wait for games to go on sale before buying, with less than two in ten (17%) willing to pay the full price of a newly released title. What’s more, almost a third (29%) say they buy games less often than monthly, with 36% opting in for the cheapest offer when buying a game regardless of store. Worryingly, one in ten admits to never spend money on gaming titles, with downloads still being stated as a preferred option by some.