Over the course of this console generation, much has been said about the PS5's steep price point — and now, even the big publishers are pointing fingers.
More specifically, Capcom president Haruhiro Tsujimoto believes that the cost of Sony's current-gen system has been a key factor in limiting software sales.
Tsujimoto's complaint stems from the fact that Monster Hunter Wilds is dragging its feet in a commercial sense; the action RPG roared into life at launch and became the company's fastest-selling title ever — but its momentum slowed to a comparative crawl in the months that followed.
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In an interview with Nikkei, as reported by Automaton, the Capcom boss reveals that ahead of release, the publisher had earmarked the PS5 as Wilds' "main platform" with regards to sales — but it simply didn't match expectations.
Tsujimoto explains that when you add everything together — the PS5's price, the price of a monthly subscription to PS Plus, the price of software — it becomes a very expensive endeavour very quickly.
He goes on to say that this total cost becomes a serious barrier, particularly for younger gamers who don't necessarily have disposable income.
For what it's worth, we think Tsujimoto's got a point; there's no denying that the PS5 is an expensive console, and recent price hikes certainly haven't changed that perspective.
However, there's also no denying that Monster Hunter Wilds has its own problems. The game's performance issues have been well documented, and many hardcore players have felt as though Capcom's been slow to add worthwhile content post-launch.
Still, to have a CEO of a major publisher highlight the PS5's price is fairly significant. As we all know, Sony's system is selling pretty damn well despite its premium standing — and Sony's obvious efforts to push expensive accessories — but publishers will be weighing up the market on a constant basis.
Do you think we'll see any other companies take a pop at the PS5's price? Do you think Sony's console is too pricey? Remember the days when consoles actually got price cuts in the comments section below.