게임 콘솔 가격 올랐다—AI 때문이라고 회사들이 말해

Have you ever bought a game console? You might be surprised now. Gaming devices are getting more expensive. Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam Deck all cost more money than before.

Why are prices going up? Technology companies give one reason: artificial intelligence. AI is everywhere now. Making AI takes time and money. Companies spend more money to build AI into their devices. This costs them more. So they raise prices to make money.

But is this the only reason? Some people think so. Others are not sure. Building any device costs money. Workers need to be paid. Materials cost money too. The world price of things changes all the time.

What does this mean for you? If you want a new console, you must pay more. Some people will buy the new device. Other people will wait. They hope prices go down later.

Game makers also think about this. They make games for these new devices. Higher prices mean fewer people buy consoles. Fewer buyers mean fewer people play their games. This is a problem for everyone.

What will happen next? Nobody knows for sure. Perhaps prices will stop going up. Perhaps new technology will help companies spend less money. Or perhaps prices will stay high for a long time.

Do you think this is fair? Should technology companies charge more for AI? These are good questions to think about.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.