PlayStation and Xbox fans react to news NBA 2K21 will cost MORE on next-gen consoles: Will the price of PS5 and Xbox Series X games generally be more expensive than PS4 and Xbox One prices?


We've been wondering for a while how much Xbox Series X and PS5 games will cost, and now NBA 2K21 has provided an early suggestion that there could be a price discrepancy between next-gen and current-gen games.

Now that NBA 2K21 pre-orders have begun, fans know a lot more about the upcoming basketball game - and its different prices could raise a few eyebrows among particularly penny-pinching gamers.

READ MORE:NBA 2K21 Official Reveal Trailer Premiere

Read on for all the essential info on the NBA 2K21 price, and how it could set a precedent for next-gen gaming being that little bit more expensive...

NBA 2K21 price is higher for PS5 and Xbox Series X

Our chums at RealSport101 report that the Standard Edition of NBA 2K21 will cost £59.99/$64.99 for current-gen consoles (PS4 and Xbox One), but the same version of the game will be priced at £64.99/$69.99 on next-gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X).

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Why does NBA 2K21 cost more on PS5 and Xbox Series X?

You've got to assume that creating a game that can run on next-gen hardware like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and make the most of those impressive technical specs, includes some additional costs.

After the NBA 2K21 price was confirmed, RealSport101 asked 2K why the price difference exists between next-gen and current-gen. Here's what the publisher said...

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Will PS5 and Xbox Series X games always cost more than PS4 and Xbox One games?

A difference of five quid (or five bucks Stateside) may not sound like much, but this detail in the NBA 2K21 pricing could set a significant precedent as the next generation of hardware approaches.

There's no telling right now whether ALL next-gen versions of games will cost more than their current-gen counterparts, but it's probably worth preparing yourself for this possibility.

However, Ubisoft has announced that they will not be raising their prices for next-gen games, at least for now.

In an earnings call, Ubisoft responded to questions about next-gen prices by stating that "we are concentrating on the Christmas releases. We have decided those games will be launched at $60."

The wording of this response suggests that as Ubisoft move away from supporting current-gen consoles, they may increase game prices in line with 2K and other publishers.

READ MORE: Xbox Series X news today: specs, features, price, release date, backwards compatibility, games reveal, live stream, and more info about Xbox 2020

If you're the type of early adopter that is keen to place their PS5 or Xbox Series X pre-order as soon as possible, you might end up having to pay a little bit extra for your games.

What about backwards compatibility?

Thankfully, with backwards compatibility being a next-gen watchword and projects like Microsoft's Smart Delivery already being set in motion, we do know that SOME players will only have to pay for this game once.

As RealSport101 confirmed with the Tweet above, the Xbox One version of NBA 2K21 will be playable on Xbox Series X via backwards compatibility. So Xbox gamers won't have to buy that more expensive next-gen version unless they really want to.

It remains to be seen where Sony will land on this, with the PS5 backwards compatibility offering yet to be fully laid out. We'll keep you posted as we hear more!

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What is the community's response to the price hike?

As you would expect from a move that sees consumers having to fork out extra for a game, many Xbox and PlayStation fans have responded negatively to the news that games might cost more.

A post in the PS5 subreddit entitled 'About NBA 2K21...Can we all agree to boycott that game!!!' has garnered over 9,800 upvotes at the time of writing, although it appears most of the criticism is towards the price rise on top of an already heavily monetised game.

Will fans react this way when the prices for games such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales, or Horizon: Forbidden West are announced? Or will we, as SIE's former CEO Shawn Layden suggested, see games remain at the same price point, but reduced in size and length?

READ MORE: PS5 games price: How much will a PS5 game cost, and will PS5 games be more expensive more than PS4 games?

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