Nintendo’s Zelda price hike opens door for more expensive games

Nintendo Co.’s upcoming Zelda sequel will be pricier than the company’s other Switch games, clearing the way for more game makers to also lift their prices.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will cost $69.99 when it’s released in the US on May 12, $10 more than usual for new titles by Nintendo. The move, which matches premium pricing by console rivals Sony Group Corp. and Microsoft Corp., may presage wider increases as it helps normalize the greater upfront cost.

Game studios across the world, including Nintendo’s home Japanese market, have been desperate to hike prices — as the expense of producing games has ratcheted up with higher player expectations for quality and content — but none were willing to do so first.