Inkle stated that the $7 price tag for TR-49 was an experiment aimed at fostering an "impulse, 'jump in' mindset" among consumers

Jon Ingold, serving as the narrative director for the indie development company Inkle, explained that they decided to set the price of their new game, TR-49, at $7 to encourage spontaneous purchases instead of delayed buying.

In a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Ingold highlighted the challenges posed by a congested and algorithm-driven market, noting that it seemed logical to test new pricing models to capture attention.

Released on January 21, TR-49, according to a statement by Ingold on Bluesky, marks the most successful launch for Inkle in over a decade. Developed over nine months as a project to master Godot, TR-49's sales figures have surpassed those of a prior game, Expelled, which took a longer time to develop but experienced a steep drop in sales after an initial surge.

Ingold described the pricing of TR-49 as an intentional trial to promote immediate player engagement. "We aimed to avoid scenarios where potential buyers keep a game on their wishlist, waiting for a discount," Ingold remarked to GamesIndustry.biz.

He further noted, "Given the current saturated and algorithmic marketplace, venturing into price experimentation seems quite justified, especially when competing against free trials."

While the initial sales performance was promising, Ingold confessed that the financial outcomes remain somewhat ambiguous. He stated, "Though our immediate sales have been strong, they haven't generated significant revenue."

Reflecting on their beginnings as a premium mobile game company, he mentioned that a low price per copy is not a novel concept for them. "Our ability to engage in such pricing experiments is partly due to the game's swift development and low studio costs, and importantly, our extensive back catalog."

Ingle shared that attracting players to explore other higher-priced titles from Inkle might also determine the strategy's success. "The financial return compared to Expelled is yet to be realized, as TR-49, though developed in half the time, is priced significantly lower. Nonetheless, if the game enhances Inkle's reputation or reestablishes our presence in the minds of players, that’s valuable to us."

In his social media post, Ingold called TR-49 a "compact game", valuing such projects for their simplicity and focused execution. He told GamesIndustry.biz, "Developing smaller, well-defined games relieves the pressure of intricate constructions, allowing thorough testing and polishing."

"This approach reduces emotional and financial risks if the reception isn’t favorable. However, we remain open to change, guided by our creative instincts and where the material leads us."