Melbourne

It's going to be funny by me saying this as I not only play games but I also write for an online publication about video games. But the fact that there are some games out there asking for more money just so you can... what, play 6 days earlier is asinine!

Partner asked if I pre-loaded Starfield and I said yes, I'm so keen for this game of course, I'm going to preload it. But it's on Xbox Game Pass (PC) where it's "free"-ish (I mean I'm spending $10 a month so it's not entirely free but it's not like I'm shelling out $100 for a new game), found out that if you buy the deluxe version you can play the game this Friday instead of next Wednesday. Looked up the cost and it's $170 for the "deluxe" version, whereas the standard edition is $120. I am not shelling out $170 just to play a game 5 days earlier. But not only that, but Jesus Christ video games are expensive. I totally get the fact that their pricing hasn't really changed and that it used to be $80 in the 90s and that was expensive. But wages haven't really gone up, we're in a cost of living crisis, still dealing with the pandemic, etc. The fact that it's even an option to pay $170 to play a video game 5 days before it "officially" comes out is just... I cannot believe it, but it's not really shocking in the grand scheme of things.

Just... ugh. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.