Also keep in mind all the cost of the disc (or for some Nintendo products, cost of the cartridge), printing the manual, box art, and all other physical products required to deliver the game, all that cost used to cut into the game cost. Nowadays publishers mostly sell digital for the exact same price, meaning all of that cost is converted into pure profit.
In 2004 $50 was the going rate for a AAA game. When you plug that into an inflation calculator, it comes to about $80.
However, today’s AAA games do not hold up against AAA games of 20 years ago. That graphics might be better but that is about it.
Also keep in mind all the cost of the disc (or for some Nintendo products, cost of the cartridge), printing the manual, box art, and all other physical products required to deliver the game, all that cost used to cut into the game cost. Nowadays publishers mostly sell digital for the exact same price, meaning all of that cost is converted into pure profit.
Yes and, Steam takes 30% off the top. So no you don’t have the cost of physical distribution but digital distribution isn’t free.
Brick and mortar averaged 50% cut, 30% is a deal.