The lights are on
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are not cheap consoles, but compared to the history of video game console prices, the two are both priced reasonably.
Ars Technica has put together an easy to read chart looking at console prices through the decades in order to create an understandable comparison to next-generation hardware. Consoles like the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis are priced about the same as Microsoft and Sony's new consoles when you consider the worth of the dollar back in the late eighties/early nineties. Considering inflation, the two consoles cost about $342 and $357 respectively.
You can also see the breakdown of console price drops through the decades and how everything stands up against one another. Ars Technica has a full rundown of interesting statistics and graphs.
[Source: Ars Technica]
Email the author Kyle Hilliard, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.
Instead of adjusting for inflation, adjust for average wage growth in the US. The results will be much different.
Using the CPI probably doesn't provide the most accurate readings, but this is still pretty cool.
its always weird tot hink about how differnt prices would be in what year rememeber when gas was about dollars and people complained lol look at gas now
That's interesting and i plan on getting a PS4 at launch
Getting a PS4 and Xbone at launch, FTW!!!
These kind of "adjustment for inflation" articles are totally ignorant. Are your wages adjusted for inflation as well? Mine sure as hell arent. To say "its actually only $342 adjusted for inflation" is marketing logic to mmake you think you arent spending as much money as you want. After the launch issues I have had with both Sony (PS2 blue disc/dvd drive issues, PS3 game drought) and MS (360 RRoD) I am good with biying either at launch. It is expensive as hell to live these days and these new consoles will not gain significant market penetration until the prices drop to around $300. There are so many people tat are just getting their PS3s and 360's now that it doesnt make sense for them to suddenly spend another $400-$500 plus $60 per game, etc. I am skipping the launches this time around. i got my wii U for a good argain and will be happy with that and my PS360 for the next coupe of years until price drops/ killer bundles. Ive wasted too much time and $$$ on launches and early system game droughts. PASS! No article will brainwahs me into spending more because "its actually less based on inflation." GTFOutta here with that!
Neo Geo ($1,111 after inflation), and 3DO ($1,127).. Two of the most expensive consoles of all time... and two of the biggest console failures of all time.
unless you live in australia, where we charge you 150 dollars more for your console, then ban the games that are coming to that console