Why Does Modern Warfare 2 Cost $70 on PC? An In-Depth Analysis
As an enthusiastic Call of Duty gamer and industry commentator, the first question many fans asked when Modern Warfare 2 got its PC pricing was: why $70? This newly elevated price point for AAA games has become a contentious issue, with publishers betting it will boost their bottom lines.
After closely analyzing the situation, I believe Activision priced MW2 at $70 across all platforms primarily because they determined the franchise‘s immense popularity could support an increased cost to maximize profitability.
Surging Development Expenses Usher in Higher Prices
Let‘s first examine factors that have driven game pricing up industry-wide. Per a 2022 Ubisoft earnings report, AAA development costs have exploded 200-300% in the last decade. Teams must be bigger, development cycles longer, marketing budgets swollen.
Modern Warfare 2 was saddled with especially daunting expenses given its scope as an enormously ambitious triple-A title. Industry analyst group Drake Star speculates MW2 required over $300 million to produce.
With costs ballooning in recent years, Activision would want to recoup higher investments by raising prices. Still, it took their confidence in the astronomical consumer demand for Call of Duty to justify a $70 MSRP on PC.
Analyzing Call of Duty Sales Volumes
Call of Duty encapsulates the annualized AAA franchise model, enjoying a massive installed fanbase topping 400 million players as of 2021. The series constitutes a juggernaut within gaming, as these lifetime sales figures underscore:
| Call of Duty Title | Approximate Lifetime Sales |
|---|---|
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 30 million copies |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | 31 million copies |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | 30.7 million copies |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops II | 31 million copies |
| Call of Duty: Ghosts | 28 million copies |
With this context around the exceptional popularity of Call of Duty, Activision understands demand remains high enough to avoid significant dropoff from raising the asking price by $10.
Early MW2 sales data affirms this thesis. The game amassed over $1 billion in worldwide sales within 10 days. Despite the elevated cost amidst economic uncertainty, enthusiasm still overwhelms sticker shock.
The Success of $70 Titles Establishes a Trend
Alongside swelling budgets, the spread of premium $70 pricing catalyzed MW2 charging full freight on PC. Sony began imposing a $70 MSRP for marquee PS5 releases in 2020 to strong results, as these sales charts exhibit:
| $70 PS5 Title | Approximate Copies Sold |
|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Over 6.5 million |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Over 1.1 million |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Over 2.5 million |
With big-name console titles thriving at $70, Actvision followed suit. After all, MW2 offers comparable content, polish and technical prowess to those PlayStation exclusives. Charging a level price point promotes an equitable perception.
The Bottom Line on MW2 Pricing
Given Call of Duty‘s enduring bankability and the success of premium $70 pricing seen elsewhere, MW2 landing at $70 on PC alongside consoles aligns reasonably well with current industry trends and precedent.
Still, receptiveness to increased costs varies amongst gamers. For devoted CoD fans who live intensely in the franchise‘s ecosystem, MW2 likely feels well worth the outlay. More casual players may hesitate, but can reassure themselves with the five hour trial of multiplayer and Spec Ops modes Activision hosted from March 16-20.
Ultimately the intent behind MW2‘s pricing is transparent – extract maximal revenue from a captive fanbase. My verdict? As an ardent fan since 2007‘s seminal Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, dropping $70 instantly was a no-brainer knowing the endless bliss bombarding across MW2‘s 32 maps and 100+ weapons will provide.
What‘s your take? Sound off in the comments!
