The next generation consoles have brought in with them a great deal of hype for what the future of gaming holds. Big franchises have laid out plans for next-gen releases that have huge potential, like the new BioShock game. But with that promise of next-gen power comes a next-gen price tag, and EA is looking to set the bar for higher pricing early with its Madden NFL 21 release for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Fans might be wondering just what the next-gen versions of EA's sports titles will look like, unsure if a jump in price is worth it. A gameplay trailer for Madden NFL 21 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S has been released, promoting some of the features available on next-gen versions of the game. With the promise of real player data to make player movements even more accurate to the real thing, and changes to playbooks, there are new features to be had in next-gen versions of Madden.
What this comes down to is what customers are willing to pay for these additional features. EA thinks that amount is $70. The company has set that price for their "NXT LVL Edition" of Madden NFL 21, which drops December 4th, as a standalone retail version of the game for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This version of the game is intended for people who will be buying Madden 21 for the first time on next-gen, as there is an upgrade program in place for those who already bought the game on current generation hardware.
The price point has sent shockwaves through the gaming world, but when asked, Sony boss Jim Ryan has said that $70 is a fair price for PS5 games. The big argument made by Ryan is that the "amount of entertainment" a player can expect is greater on next-gen, and thus the price should be higher.
Madden NFL 21 is offering some nice incremental upgrades in the next-gen version of the game, but fans wonder if some of Madden's flaws can be fixed by next-gen consoles. It may take some time for games to draw out the full potential of next-gen systems, so asking this year's Madden to fix everything in the next-gen version might be a bit too much to ask for. Fans who previously purchased the game for PS4 or Xbox One can upgrade to next-gen for free, so for these folks there will be less risk in checking out the next-gen version of Madden.
If Bloomberg reports are to be believed, the price of next-gen games could have been higher than $70. Anything above this price point would have really tested the market, and gamers' tolerance. NXT LVL Madden will be a good chance to see if fans will bite at the higher price.
Madden NFL 21 NXT LVL Edition will be available on December 4th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Gamespot
