Take-Two CEO: Tablet games could cost $40

iPad and tablet gaming is on the rise. Most games for tablets are normally under $10 in cost, but as tablet games become more robust like console games for the Xbox 360 system, the apps will cost more to develop, so game makers would want more money in return to cover those higher costs, according to the video game news website IndustryGamers.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said that someday tablet games could cost as much as $30 or $40, a price point that falls in line with the price of titles for dedicated gaming handhelds such as the Nintendo 3DS.

In a Q & A with Forbes, he was asked whether tablet games could be priced at that level in which he responded, “I don’t see why not. Tablets are ubiquitous. And tablets are a great game platform. And it’s the right sized screen. And you use the tablet to have an engaging experience. So if all of that’s true, I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to sell a robust product for the same price point. The reason the price point is currently lower for an iPhone app is it’s used for five minutes, and not for a hundred hours.”

Zelnick carried on, “My take is that small screens will be used for a quick but interactive entertainment experience. Mid and large screens can be a robust and engaging entertainment experience. That’s how my kids play games. When they’re at home, they don’t really play games on their desktops or tablets. They play games on the projection TV.”

Would consumers purchase games on their tablets costing upwards of $40? Only time will tell if that’s the direction gaming on tablets is going.