[OC] Video Game Console and Handheld launch prices adjusted for inflation – June 2025 (Full NA/Worldwide Release)

Posted by The_Majestic_Mantis

26 comments

  2. I KNEW IT. I knew games were cheaper when I was a kid because I happened to start gaming right when it was the cheapest it has ever been and I was buying the cheapest major console (and it was used).

  5. I knew that consoles have roughly stayed the same cost. I’m curious if the prices of additional games (don’t know if that data is even available) have changed over the years.

  6. Damn 3do had some balls selling for $700. I have a friend who had one when it came out. He still does but can’t get it to work. Some known laser issue, most likely.

  7. Damn my parents spend $150 on my game gear. I was a little child. I’m going to have to say thank you. 

  8. I clicked to see the ‘today’s cost’ of the Neo Geo and was not disappointed.

  9. N64 what a deal with games like Zelda OOT and GoldenEye.

  10. Truly impressed that the highest-priced console adjusted for inflation is the Philips CD-i.

  11. I remember it clear as day. The original Nintendo my father purchased for me was $129.84. I remember the cash register, Kay-Bee toy store and that entire week vividly. Maybe in Canada it was $500 in 1986 but not in Florida.

  12. Those early systems really tried to squeeze consumers huh

  13. Yeah until the recent $70/80 price hike, gaming was actually cheaper than it’s ever been. Look at game prices adjusted for inflation

    New NES game in 1985 = $50. Adjusted for inflation, $149.

    New PS2 game in 2005 = $50. Adjusted for inflation, $82.13.

    New Nintendo DS game in 2007 = $35. Adjusted for inflation, $54.

    New PS3 game in 2010 = $60. Adjusted for inflation, $88.27.

    So actually games have cost MORE than $80 since the beginning of gaming with the main exception being the significantly underpowered Nintendo handhelds. Game prices have been weirdly resistant to inflation for 4 decades now.

    If devs came out and said “Games have gotten (relatively) cheaper over the years so that’s why we did microtransactions. Now we’re stopping microtransactions but the games will be $100” I would be like bet that’s pretty reasonable given the data. But I know these companies are just gonna hike it up to $80 and keep doing the microtransaction dogshit

  14. TIL Apple released a game console. You’d think they would be in a good position to get back in that market but then again it would probably cost $$$$$ if they released one again

  15. I miss my Panasonic 3D0. Myst, Road Rash… oh such core childhood memories.

  16. B-but gaming is supposed to be more expensive than ever now.

  18. Somehow ended up with both Tiger consoles on here. The Game.com wasn’t good, but at least it was an interesting attempt, crappy touchscreen, two game cartridge slots and all. R-Zone was also there…

  19. Jeez I did not remember price were that cheap back in the days and, why retro consoles are so expensive nowadays?

  21. I as a 9 year old mowed grass during the summer . I rode my bike to Kmart to buy the Atari 2600 summer of ’79. If i remember correctly it was 169 dollars adjust for inflation. That’s 700 dollars..

    I as a 9 year made that kinda money mowing the neighbors yard

  22. Damn, I miss the GameCube days. Life was so much simpler.

  23. Inflation is the umbrella term of people having to pay for poor decisions made by others

  24. No SP? Shout out to Ouya – I had one. That didn’t pan out well. The mobile OS as console gaming never really went the direction everyone was hoping it would.

  25. Now do the amount of min wage hours needed to purchase each one

  26. I vividly remember the Christmas my parents bought me 7 Atari 2600 games. That had to cost a bunch, and as has been explained to me by my brother since I apparently didn’t know, we were poor

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