Since estimates from 2020 revealed that around 35% of the world’s population regularly games, it’s no surprise that the gaming industry is one of the biggest and most successful in the world. Many gamers know the excitement of waiting for a new release and getting their hands on a title they’ve been anticipating for months. But the same gamers have also likely felt that sinking feeling we get when we see the price tag on the titles. Why are video games so expensive now, and what are some alternatives that can help you save cash?
Why Video Games Are So Expensive
Video game prices continue to rise year on year, and have left many people feeling that such a climbing price tag is simply unsustainable for their budgets. The reasons for these increasing fees are many, but a lot of it comes down to general inflation happening all across the world. When this is paired with the fact that modern video games that incorporate all of the latest tech in game development are extremely difficult and expensive to make, many studios simply have to charge large amounts to make their creations financially worthwhile.
Ways to Make Gaming Cheaper
Despite the often staggering price of new release games on official sites and from regular retailers, which can be enough to put anyone off the gaming world, some alternatives can help you save money while still engaging with your hobby.
Casino Gaming
Casino gaming is a hugely popular pastime across the world, and for good reason, too. What makes this hobby a significantly cheaper alternative to buying and playing new video games is that it gives the player complete control over how much they want to spend.
There are also a large number of online casino platforms carefully selected by experts for their payouts, meaning that by choosing these, you’ll be statistically more likely to win from your gaming time. Something that often allows casino gamers to not only have fun, but turn a profit at the same time. You never know, the winnings you make from online casino gaming might even go on to cover the high fees of new release games.
Second-Hand Retailers
Another highly effective way to save money when gaming is to only purchase video games from second-hand retailers such as CeX. These shops often have a wide range of both new and old games for all manner of gaming platforms, and with significantly cheaper price tags than you’d face if buying new. As an additional bonus, you can even sell your old games in many of these stores for either cash or store credits.
In Australia, CeX has stores located in:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Queensland
Subscription Services
Finally, one of the most effective ways to save money on games that still gives you access to impressive game libraries is to make use of gaming platforms' subscription services. Both PlayStation and Xbox, for example, have monthly and annual plans that give their users access to loads of games, including classic favourites and new releases, all for a set price, making it infinitely easier to budget your gaming time.
