In the indie game scene, pricing decisions can spark as much discussion as gameplay itself. This time, the climbing-focused title PEAK is drawing attention not for its mechanics, but for its price tag. One of the game’s co-creators recently explained the reasoning behind their pricing strategy, shedding light on how players actually perceive prices.
According to the developer, the team realized that players don’t evaluate prices in a strictly mathematical way, but through psychological thresholds. In a player’s mind, spending five dollars already counts as a real purchase. From there, prices like six, seven, or even eight dollars still feel like “five bucks.” As the co-creator put it, four dollars is also kind of five dollars, three dollars feels like two, and two dollars is basically free.
This insight pushed the team to analyze pricing tiers more deeply and identify where perception truly shifts. During this process, the co-creator summarized their conclusion with a clear statement:
“Eight bucks going to five bucks is the biggest differential we could find in pricing, so we found it very optimal.”
The developer also explained that eight dollars still comfortably sits in the “five-dollar zone” for most players, while prices reaching ten dollars immediately feel more expensive. Similarly, twelve dollars tends to register as ten, whereas thirteen dollars is often perceived as fifteen. These mental shortcuts mean even small price increases can result in much larger perceived jumps.
Taking all of this into account, the team believes they landed on the most optimal price point for PEAK. At a time when accessibility and value are crucial for indie games, this pricing philosophy has sparked fresh discussion across the community.
Do players really judge prices this intuitively? Would a small price difference really change your decision to buy a game, or do you usually just buy it if it feels right? Share your thoughts and follow us on X and stay tuned VGNW for the latest updates from the gaming world.
What is the price of PEAK?
PEAK is currently priced at $8, but the game is on sale on Steam right now, making it available at a lower price for a limited time.
