For years, video games looked like one of the best deals in entertainment: buy a console, buy a game, plug them into your home television, and play for hours. That bargain feels a lot less simple today. Price increases are hitting almost every layer of the hobby. Hardware prices have increased in the past year: Microsoft 's Xbox Series S jumped from $379.99 to $399.99 in October, and the Playstation 5 Disc Edition's price rose from $549.99 to $649.99 in April. Nintendo's Switch 2 currently