Inkle Sets TR-49 Price at $7 to Encourage Impulse Buying

Inkle, an indie game developer, has priced its new title, TR-49, at $7 to promote impulse buying. Jon Ingold, Inkle’s narrative director, shared insights with GamesIndustry.biz about this strategy. He noted that the saturated and algorithm-driven gaming market necessitates innovative pricing approaches.

TR-49 Launch Details

TR-49 was released on January 21, marking Inkle’s most successful launch in 14 years. The game was developed in just nine months as part of an effort to explore the Godot engine.

Sales Performance

• TR-49 sold double the units of Inkle’s previous title, Expelled, within the same timeframe.
• While TR-49 launched strongly, Ingold acknowledged that early sales might not translate into substantial revenue.

Pricing Strategy

Ingold emphasized that the $7 price tag is meant to dissuade players from wishlisting, encouraging them to engage with the game immediately. This pricing reflects Inkle’s adaptation to current market trends and competition with free game demos.

Financial Implications

While TR-49 required less development time and had lower production costs, it must achieve higher sales to be financially competitive with Expelled. Ingold, however, suggests the potential reputational benefits of increased visibility for Inkle’s future projects make this price experiment worthwhile.

Future Directions

The studio remains flexible regarding its pricing strategy, driven primarily by creative passion. Ingold expressed the potential advantages of smaller projects, noting they allow for focused development and easier adjustments based on player feedback.

Inkle’s experimentation with TR-49 signifies a shift in how indie developers can approach marketing and pricing, potentially paving the way for broader industry changes. With this new title, they aim not only for direct sales but also to enhance their presence in the gaming community.