Xbox says goodbye to $80 games for now, drops The Outer Worlds 2 to $70 and promises to "keep our full priced holiday releases" to the old standard

Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 2:37 pm

Xbox Reverses Course on $80 Game Pricing for The Outer Worlds 2

In a move that may signal a shift in the gaming industry's pricing strategy, Xbox has announced that the upcoming RPG *The Outer Worlds 2* will launch at the standard $70 price point, reversing its initial $80 price tag. This decision comes amidst growing discussions about the rising cost of AAA video games.

An Xbox spokesperson confirmed the price adjustment, stating the company's commitment to keeping its full-priced holiday releases, including *The Outer Worlds 2*, in line with current market conditions. Refunds will be issued to those who pre-ordered the game at the higher price.

The announcement follows the recent launch of *Mario Kart World* on Switch 2 at the $80 price point. While the industry has seen increasing production costs, the move to $80 games has not been universally embraced.

The director of *The Outer Worlds 2* has stated that the development team does not set the prices for their games.

The price of *Call of Duty: Black Ops 7*, another major Xbox-published title, has not been confirmed.

BNN's Perspective: This decision by Xbox is a welcome one for consumers. While the economics of game development are complex, the potential for $80 games to become the norm could have priced many gamers out of their favorite hobby. This move suggests that publishers are listening to consumer feedback and are willing to adjust their strategies to maintain a healthy market.

Keywords: Xbox, The Outer Worlds 2, $80 games, $70 games, pricing, video games, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Microsoft, AAA games, gaming industry.

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