The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300 USD. The Switch 2 price was absent from the huge Nintendo Direct, only to be quietly revealed at $450. As for game prices, Mario Kart World is a whopping $80. Costs are on the rise, and the latest tariffs have spiked the price of accessories. So… where do we go from here? Also… Ubisoft slices off its most profitable franchises, lots of layoffs, and a huge game publisher strike.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:02:53] - Nintendo Switch 2 and The Return of Paul Rudd, Gamer Dude
• [00:43:22] - Ubisoft Slices Off an Arm to Make a Tencent Deal
• [00:53:41] - Gamestop Q4 and Full Year Earnings
• [00:58:49] - Investment Interlude
• [01:01:36] - Quick Hits
• [01:14:37] - Labor Report

SOURCES

• Nintendo Switch 2 Launches June 5 at $449.99 | BusinessWire
• Ubisoft Accelerates its Transformation by Laying Foundation for New Operating Model | Ubisoft
• GameStop Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results | GameStop

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Krafton acquires controlling stake in Indian gaming studio Nautilus Mobile for $14M | TechCrunch
• Say hi to the new Supercell Investments | Supercell

LABOR REPORT

• Cyan Worlds Lays off Half its Staff | Cyan Worlds on Twitter
• Plaion: Job cuts at Munich-based Embracer division (Update) | Games Wirtschaft
• Plaion Lays Off a Reported 40 People | Plaion
• Crystal Dynamics lays off 17 employees | GamesIndustry
• Major Layoffs at Eidos-Montreal | Eidos-Montreal on LinkedIn
• More Layoffs at Lost Boys Interactive? | Bryan Harmon on LinkedIn
• Atomhawk Design Announces Layoffs | Atomhawk Design on LinkedIn
• PlaySide Studios is Restructuring | PlaySide Studios on LinkedIn
• Supermoves Developer Makea Games is Shutting Down | Makea Games
• Brass Lion Has Conducted Layoffs | Brass Lion on LinkedIn
• ZeniMax union votes to authorize a strike | The Verge