The upcoming release of Valor Mortis from developer One More Level is creating a stir with its pricing strategy, set at $40 / €40, setting it apart from other blockbuster releases this autumn. This pricing decision, which is still pending confirmation in the UK, has been backed by detailed reasoning from both the developer and publisher.
Developer’s Pricing Strategy
In a recent announcement on X, the developer revealed the rationale behind this pricing. Despite the confidence in their product’s quality, including its 20-hour narrative, they are fully aware of the financial and temporal demands on gamers during this busy release period. The developer stated, “This fall is stacked and there’s high demand for your time and money.”
Competitive Release Environment
Valor Mortis is set to launch on 13th October, amidst high-profile titles like Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8, and several others in close succession. Notably, this release was postponed from its original 24th September date, influenced by the launch of Control Resonant. The developer is taking a bold step by positioning Valor Mortis amidst these heavyweights in what is described as one of the busiest release falls in gaming history.
Deluxe Edition and Future Updates
For those seeking a more expansive experience, a Deluxe Edition of the game, priced at $60 / €60, offers the base game, a major story DLC planned for 2027, and a package of weapon skins. Additionally, the developer has committed to delivering free updates in the following months.
Publisher’s Confidence in Product
Lyrical Games’ head, Blake Rochkind, expressed the careful deliberation behind this pricing in a discussion with The Game Business. He emphasized the intention to communicate the studio’s confidence, stating, “The worst thing we could do is not push our chips in and say, ‘We want this to be a game that you can pick up alongside these other great games.'” Rochkind acknowledged the challenge of launching a new intellectual property during such a competitive period but remained optimistic about Valor Mortis’s reception.
The game, a first-person Soulslike, leverages its distinctive concept as a major selling point. It will be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with the added incentive of being a day-one release on Game Pass for PC and Xbox players.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.