Sniper Elite 3's success points the way for mid-budget games

VideoGamer: "How timing, knowing the market, and a lot of luck mean there could still be a place for 'double-A' franchises."

[Volkama]

How much does this game retail for?

The PC market is rife with "mid-budget" games and they launch at any fitting price. Some of them are great quality, and ditching the $60 retail model really seems to release some shackles.

I think consoles have the potential to follow that trend now that self-publishing is so popular, and even publishers may be able to take a piece of the action if they are forward-thinking. Child of Light is a good example.

It may be harder to support brick and mortar retailers though...

[christrules0041]

Here in Canada Sniper Elite 3 is $60 right now but all other games are $70. In the US it's probably $50 retail.

[uth11]

The economics of gaming seem to have pushed the big publishers to make AAA games to guarantee mega-sellers.

At the other end are the indies with small teams and budgets and price tags.

I can't imagine this situation will last forever. I think something will fill the gap, maybe a trend towards bigger indie titles to fill the middle.

[iamnsuperman]

If it launched in a dry spell (which this game did) then sure it will briefly sell. But this isn't a cause of celebration as there needs to be very specific circumstances (I. E. nothing launching anytime soon) and early in a console life (one of the big reasons people bought it, like myself,is because they don't have a huge amount to play on their new systems. If this launched a year or two later I doubt it would have done so well)

[iceman06]

I agree. But, that's what makes the overall point even more poignant. We have all seen the gaps that existed between major releases, the summer doldrums for example. Everybody knows that publishers basically save games to compete in the Fall and then usually after the fiscal year. That leaves a huge chunk of time that could be exploited with this strategy. Mid ranged games have basically dried up post PS2 (aside from the indies and PSN/XBL offerings). So, why not take some slightly less financial risks with some mid-ranged games? Who knows, you might actually catch lightening in a bottle. At the very least, there's a high chance of breaking even (and maybe bring new fans to you as a developer) just because you release at a time when there is no competition and people are looking to get something....anything to play.

[Volkama]

I dunno. I pick up the odd PC game new for £10-£20 quite often. Things like the van helsing games. Not big budget, but good at what they do and couldn't really exist in the full retail model.

I would take 4 or 5 games like this over most retail games any day of the week. And if it doesn't work out and the game flunks it is less likely to sink the studio completely.

$60 blockbusters have their place, but it should not be the standard. I think we will see a significant shift in the console space this gen, hand-in-hand with self publishing to the digital marketplace.

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

I would buy it but I got to buy Forza 5 for my Xbone and The Last Of Us Remastered for my PS4. I enjoyed the hell out if Sniper Elite V2 on 360.

[stubee34]

This retails the same price as any other ps4 game in the uk so wtf is all this "budget" talk??

[christian hour]

Thats what confused me, pretty sure my friend paid 60 euro or so for it on PSN over here (Ireland)

[LOL_WUT]

I'm thinking about picking this up looks good ;)

[user7402931]

great game