If there's one seemingly ironclad rule in video games, it's that the suggested prices for hardware and software don't get higher after launch day (aside from a few used game rarities , of course). Enter Ubisoft, seeking to be the exception that proves the rule by introducing a $20 price increase for most versions of Rainbow Six Siege roughly two years after the game's initial launch

The price adjustment isn't as simple as an across-the-board price hike for the same content, though. For one, PC players will still have access to a $15 Starter Edition, which includes the full game but requires a lengthier gameplay grind to unlock playable "Operators."

Players who want to reduce that grind have had to opt for the $40 Standard Edition, which was available on PC and console. Ubisoft says that option is going away and being replaced with a $60 Advanced Edition that includes 10 new Outbreak Packs—randomized loot boxes that include one of 50 cosmetic items. Existing players will only receive four Outbreak Packs if they log in during a four-week in-game event, and all players can purchase more with real money (players can't get duplicate items this way, so buying 50 packs guarantees the full set).

The price for existing $70 Gold Edition will increase to $90, and the Complete Edition price will increase from $110 to $130, Ubisoft said. Those editions now include 10 Outbreak packs and access to "Year 3 pass" DLC, which will cost $30 for players who previously purchased those editions at their lower prices. All editions of the game will now come with 600 R6 credits, which can be used for in-game items.

The game's subreddit is already (predictably) full of irate commenters reacting to the move. "Considering that the starter edition is really shitty, new players will have to pay $60 for a two-year-old game," user Azagorath wrote. "I have friends who are considering buying this, but this just guaranteed them NOT buying it because they neither want to pay $60 for an old game nor grind 12.5K per basic Op," user iiii_Hex added.

Going in reverse

As games evolve significantly after their initial release these days, it's not uncommon for publishers to release "Game of the Year" editions or other such "complete" packages that round up all the post-launch DLC into a slightly more expensive package. What makes Ubisoft's treatment of Rainbow Six: Siege different is that the cheaper, DLC-free editions are being removed. In practice, new players are essentially being forced to pay $20 more than earlier players for a handful of cosmetic items.

The price hike could reflect Ubisoft's continued confidence in Rainbow Six: Siege, which climbed to 25 million registered players last month and attracted more than two million daily players as of last summer. The company seems to be betting that new players will be willing to pay a slightly higher price to join a competitive tactical shooter with such an established player base.

But other successful shooters usually go the other way with their pricing years after launch. Blizzard has used occasional sales to lower the entry point for the wildly popular Overwatch, giving more players the opportunity to buy its loot boxes. Overkill offered a permanent price cut on the Payday 2 and DLC just over a year after launch.

Valve stopped charging for Team Fortress 2 altogether in 2011, leading to a 12-fold increase in revenue thanks to increased purchases of in-game hats. On the other hand, free-to-play MMO Rift announced just last week that it will be bringing back paid subscriptions in the near future.

By charging more for new players to get in the door, Ubisoft might be grabbing short-term pennies but missing the longer-term dollars that come from having a larger and more engaged player base. Then again, Ubisoft might just be recognizing that proven and continued high demand for its game means it can raise more money with a higher entrance fee.