ShopTo worried publishers are following Modern Warfare 2 price trend

ShopTo bossman Igor Cipolletta has relayed that he is worried over the newest "trend" of pricey franchise games.

Speaking with Eurogamer, Cipolletta fears that publishers are following Activision's lead in this respect, thanks to the announced price increase for Modern Warfare 2.

"Whether planned, or a case of jumping on the popular franchises bandwagon, we have seen Microsoft increase the price of Forza 3 to GBP 49.99 and Nintendo increase the price of Professor Layton [and Pandora's Box] to GBP 34.99," he told the site. "I sincerely hope that not all publishers will follow this lead.

"The price increases that some publishers think the market can stand are, to say the least, a worrying trend, and appear to be more than just a result of currency fluctuations."

Cipolletta commended Capcom for dropping the price of its games to GBP 39.99, but felt the price increase for Wii did not go over as well as Nintendo hoped.

"Subsequent to the price increase and as a result of the European 'free market' the console is in plentiful supply and some chain stores were forced to discount the machine to gain cash back," he added. "I think this is a demonstration that the market was either unable or unwilling to stomach the Nintendo hardware price increase."

Thanks, GI.biz.