This Is Why Microsoft's 'ReCore' Is Only $40

Cameron Koch, Tech Times 15 July 2016, 01:07 pm

ReCore is one of Microsoft's big guns this holiday season, and there's a ton of talent behind the upcoming action game. Mega Man creator Keji Inafune, together with some of the key minds behind the critically-adored Metroid Prime trilogy, is bringing ReCore to life, and so far, footage looks promising.

Why, then, is the game only going to be $40, a budget price for an AAA first-party title? Xbox marketing manager Aaron Greenberg says it all comes down to ReCore being a brand new IP.

"With new IP like that ... ideally, launch timing matters a lot," Greenberg recently said on TXR Podcast. "So that's why you're seeing us launch it as our first title of the season; it's coming in September. So getting out early. The second thing is it doesn't have an existing base of fans. So we have to build that fan base. Rightly so, [gamers] are very thoughtful about, 'Where do I want to spend my money?' 'What games do I want to buy?' So we kind of have to earn their vote; we have to earn their trust; we have to earn their dollar."

Greenberg goes on to say that they wanted there to be "no barriers" when it came to attracting gamers to the title.

"We wanted to be able to give you a great AAA that gives you $60 of value but if you aren't sure, not let that be the barrier of a trade-off of, 'Hey there's a $60 game and there's this game.' We wanted you to be able to get in," Greenberg explained.

"So that's why we priced it at $40," he said. "We hope that will increase its chances of having success as a new IP."

Sweetening the deal is the fact that ReCore will be one of Microsoft's first "Play Anywhere" titles, which will award those who purchase the game on Xbox One digitally with a Windows 10 PC copy of the game as well for free. Two copies of an AAA game developed by a dream team of creators, all for $40? It sounds too good to be true, but ReCore's fate rests with the finished product. If ReCore turns out to be great, Microsoft could have a hit on its hands. If it doesn't, then even a $40 price tag might not save it.

ReCore releases on Sept. 13.