Major AAA game publishers are increasingly relying on endless remasters and remakes, pushing the industry into severe creative stagnation while charging premium $70 next-generation prices for recycled content.
The $70 price tag was introduced with the promise of funding larger, more immersive, and technologically advanced next-gen experiences. As gamers, we are willing to pay full premium prices for brand-new, original AAA franchises that push boundaries and take creative risks. However, using that same $70 tag to monetize repackaged games we already own is completely unacceptable.
While remastering takes effort, reusing existing worlds and mechanics requires a fraction of the budget of building a brand-new game from scratch. The price to the consumer must reflect that difference. By constantly pushing safe remasters at full price, publishers are crowding out original ideas. We invest in modern hardware to experience new technology and fresh storytelling, not to buy the same games twice.
We are calling on the executives and board members at Sony, Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and all major AAA publishers to commit to two major changes:
1. Price Remasters Fairly: End the $70 standard for games that heavily reuse older content. Price them fairly (e.g., $30–$40) to reflect their actual, lower development costs. 2. Fund Original IPs: Shift massive budgets away from endless remakes and invest heavily in entirely new, original franchises that actually justify a premium next-gen price tag. Stop the endless cash grabs and start funding the future of original AAA gaming.