Chips aren’t improving like they used to, and it’s killing game console price cuts

For years, I was patient for new game consoles only when they came with expansive library of games and extra features, but now prices have started to rise again, breaking a trend that once saw consoles get cheaper each generation. The last significant price drop was in 2016 with the PS4 Slim, yet today we're seeing hikes like $50 for the Nintendo Switch OLED, $50 on the PlayStation 5, and $80-$100 jumps on Xbox Series S/X. Factors like inflation, supply crunches from the pandemic, Trump-era trade policies, and a shift toward relying on game sales to cover hardware costs are driving these unexpected increases, alongside corporate priorities tied to shareholder value.