As Prices Increase, Disabled Players Feel Left Behind

Bluesky user Quandtuniverse uses gaming to unwind after work. Their genres of choice, turn-based RPGs, strategy games, and point-and-click adventures are beneficial for their slower playstyles. More importantly, these games allow them to comfortably play at a pace that works with their disabilities. Yet, as the gaming industry continues to increase prices for games, devices, and services, Quandtuniverse is just one of many disabled players that are now having to forgo newer titles and systems.

Several weeks ago, Microsoft announced a 50% price increase for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. During the following week, Microsoft announced further price increases for only its consoles in the US, citing “changes in the macroeconomic environment.” This is already on top of $70 for most new releases ($80 for some Switch 1 upgrades to the Switch 2). Speaking with Access Granted, disabled individuals discuss the monthly cost of living with a disability, what they’ve been forced to miss out on because of price increases, and if gaming will be affordable to them if prices continue at this trend.

The Cost of the Disabled Experience

In 2020, the National Disability Institute published a report reflecting the cost of living for disabled people in the United States alone. On average, disabled Americans are expected to pay “28 percent more income (or an additional $17,690 a year for a household at the median income level).” And as the economic situation drastically unravels both locally and globally, those costs are only projected to increase. Despite living outside the US, Quandtuniverse is one of many that frequently experiences what is known as the “Disability Tax.”

“I am often in too much pain to stand or walk so I spend a lot of money on delivery: groceries, home essentials, and ready-to-eat food for when I cannot cook for myself,” Quandtuniverse said. “I have a lot of care items for when I am bedridden. My medications are mostly covered by insurance but occasionally I need over-the-counter items. If I cannot walk to the store, I need to pay someone to get them for me.”

Depending on the severity of pain levels, the monthly cost to maintain their disability can vary, with estimates between “$400 to $700.” And as gaming companies raise prices for everything, disabled individuals like Quandtuniverse will inevitably be excluded. While they do find some financial respite in the form of indies, they feel increasingly pushed aside for an accessible hobby.

“I've been priced out of anything in the current AAA market,” they said. “Nearly 100% of my gaming in the past year has been indie titles and many of them are even free! They fill a significant niche, but indie devs need to eat too, so it feels exploitative to tell people to just rely on cheap indie games for entertainment. But the fact is, I have fallen out of the market for major studios, and franchises and series that I grew up with are unavailable to me.”

When Everyone Can't Play

Quandtuniverse’s experience is not unique, and emblematic of a growing trend – disabled people are frequently encountering inaccessible pricing. Producer and accessibility consultant, Tarja Porkka-Kontturi’s monthly expenditures for her disability range from €350-€1500, but “the average is somewhere between €700 and €850.” Porkka-Kontturi notes that she frequently needs to utilize installment-based payments for her disability, and those can add up for several months. While her financial situation has improved with work, it’s still taxing at times.

Porkka-Kontturi explains that being outpriced is not new, particularly with many AAA games. While she was able to purchase a PS5 and Xbox Series X through some journalism work at KonsoliFIN, she is unable to afford certain subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass.

“I’m either saving like I did for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, waiting for sales, playing from Game Pass if I can afford the subscription, or just missing out and watching gameplays from YouTube,” Porkka-Kontturi said. “I quit World of Warcraft because of subscription costs. I just had to eliminate all expenses that weren’t essential.”

Porkka-Kontturi acknowledges the overall accessibility of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. For many disabled players, there is a level of financial relief and independence from accessing full titles without having to purchase them. Yet, as subscriptions raise their prices, disabled individuals are forced to forgo them, instead replaying older titles or waiting for sales. And as Porkka-Kontturi notes, without consistent work, she can’t rely on subscriptions.

“I’m extremely lucky and privileged to have a job and hobby which both let me get games and play without a cost,” she said. “Otherwise, I would be playing my old Skyrim runs and free game demos. PlayStation Plus offers cool games, but again, it’s a subscription that costs a lot of money, and I don’t always know if I will be able to get some more time from sales or as promo codes. Same goes for Xbox Game Pass. Great services, but not free.”

Rising Costs and the Future of Gaming

Quandtuniverse and Tarja Porkka-Kontturi’s growing concerns highlight the hypocrisy that disabled people are grappling with in the gaming industry. For the marketing campaigns advertising accessible games and products, growing relations with disabled influencers, and slogans like “When Everyone Plays, We All Win,” disabled players struggle to maintain their relationships with gaming, through no fault of their own.

Arlis is one of many disabled individuals that receive both SSDI and SSI, federally funded programs that financially aid disabled people. While their Medicare and Medicaid cover prescriptions and appointments, their expenses go toward their vehicle, something that is a necessity in their rural area. Without a car, monthly expenses would skyrocket. Yet, even with federal benefits, Arlis is still priced out of modern gaming.

“With prices the way they are now, I can still game to a fair degree but that comes with a caveat; I'm not doing any AAA gaming or buying new devices,” they said. “I absolutely do not have the money for these egregious [$70] price points a lot of AAA games come out at now, and certainly not $500+ for a new console. I was fortunate with my PS5 and managed to get one at launch, but it set me back several months’ worth of payments.”

Arlis notes that they choose to forgo other forms of luxuries like “frequent clothing purchases, eating out, going to concerts or doing local entertainment such as movies or community events” to continue gaming, but even with these savings, is finding gaming increasingly difficult to maintain. And as companies raise game, system, and tech prices, Arlis cannot assume that gaming will be affordable.

“I have a growing amount of apprehension toward my gaming capability in future console generations and in terms of PC upgrades because of the skyrocketing price of GPUs and consoles, as well as physical releases,” they said. “The biggest concern I have is just being able to keep up with device prices and PC upgrades. I haven't really bought many games as a pre-order or at full price already, having trained myself to use the limited budget I have.”

Like Quandtuniverse, Arlis continues to game through the vast indie selection on platforms like Steam. Rather than purchase a single $70 game, they can afford “games under or around $10 and only two or three of them a month.” Yet, indies can lack the same level of accessibility that AAA games offer. And while there is a plethora of games, disabled people may not feel comfortable spending money on the potential for an inaccessible title.

Price jumps are not new. Games, systems, and devices have all increased throughout the years due to a myriad of economic factors like inflation. It’s not unheard of to hear stories of people paying $40 for a mainline Pokémon entry, to now pay upwards of $70. However, the extra costs of living with a disability, coupled with benefit systems that force individuals to live with an income cap, means disabled players are pushed out by an industry that purportedly championed their inclusion. And as Quandtuniverse notes, there is a growing divide between disabled players who can no longer support their favorite hobby.

“As a gamer, I feel like there's an increasing split between people who can afford these games and drive the conversations around them, and people who are forced to wait or skip out on them,” they said. “I love the accessibility of still being able to play indie titles, and so long as they exist, I will never quit gaming. But I'm also losing out on major experiences, and with everything in the world getting more expensive beyond my means, it feels hopeless to catch up.”