How People Afford Video Games

In 2026, a new console generation is looming, and the base model of Valve’s new Steam Machine costs $1,050. That price tag is not a gouge—it’s a direct reflection of a hardware market where memory chip prices have skyrocketed, driven by AI companies hoovering up components. The hosts of Triple Click, Jason Schreier, Kirk Hamilton, and Maddy Myers, spent an episode reading hundreds of listener emails about how they actually afford video games, and the picture that emerged is less about game prices and more about the broader economic squeeze that makes a $70 or $80 game feel like a major decision.

The Real Problem Is Wage Stagnation, Not Game Prices

A recurring theme in the listener emails was that the conversation about game affordability often misses the point. One anonymous listener wrote what the hosts called a "manifesto," arguing that the issue isn't the price of games or hardware, but wage stagnation. They pointed out that their first job at Subway in 2006 paid $6.25 an hour, and the federal minimum wage has only risen to $7.25 in the twenty years since. As the listener put it, "The 'games are actually cheaper now' crowd are correct, but the wages are lower and necessities cost more." The hosts agreed that this context is essential. Groceries, rent, and housing have all skyrocketed, while game prices have remained relatively flat. Schreier noted that $65 in 1989—the