Group 1 - The initial sales momentum of the Nintendo Switch 2 (NS2) indicates that early controversies did not significantly impact its market performance, with sales surpassing 3.5 million units within just four days of launch, exceeding the first-month sales of the original Nintendo Switch [1][2] - The NS2's sales trajectory suggests it may soon break the record of 4.5 million units sold within the first two months, previously held by Sony's PS4 and PS5 [1][2] - Despite the strong sales, there are concerns regarding Nintendo's shift in strategy towards physical game cartridges, which may affect the overall gaming ecosystem [3][4] Group 2 - Nintendo's introduction of the key card technology for NS2 means that physical cartridges will no longer store the game itself but will serve as activation and authentication mediums, requiring players to download the game content separately [4][5] - The majority of confirmed third-party games for NS2 will still be released in physical form as key cards, leading to a perception among players that publishers who include full games on cartridges are "heroes" [5][6] - The shift towards digital gaming has been ongoing, with significant growth in digital game sales observed during the pandemic, leading to a projected decline in physical game sales [24][25] Group 3 - The gaming industry has seen a gradual transition from physical to digital formats, with statistics indicating that by 2024, physical game revenue will account for only 4.6% of the global gaming market, while digital games will dominate at approximately 95.4% [25] - The pandemic has accelerated this transition, as more players adapted to purchasing digital games, leading to a significant increase in digital sales for companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft [23][24] - Despite the dominance of digital games, there remains a belief that physical games will not completely disappear, as they still hold value for players in terms of cost, ownership, and emotional connection [26][28] Group 4 - Nintendo's new "virtual card" feature allows digital games to mimic the experience of physical cartridges, enabling actions like lending and transferring games between devices, thus providing a sense of ownership [44][45] - This feature represents a potential compromise for Nintendo, allowing it to transition towards digital gaming while still respecting the preferences of traditional physical game users [48][49] - The ongoing evolution of gaming media suggests that the lines between physical and digital formats may continue to blur, with both formats coexisting in the future [50][51]

Core Viewpoint - The gaming console market is experiencing a significant shift, with prices increasing rather than decreasing, which contradicts historical trends where prices typically drop over time [2][9]. Price Trends - The last major price drop for gaming consoles occurred in 2016 with the PS4 Slim, which saw a price reduction from $349 to $299 [2]. - Recent price increases include the OLED version of the Nintendo Switch, which rose by $50, and the PS5's digital version, which also increased by $50 in 2023 [2]. - Xbox Series S and X saw price hikes of $80 to $100 without any hardware improvements [2]. Factors Influencing Price Increases - Multiple factors contribute to the rising prices, including inflation, supply shortages during the pandemic, unpredictable trade policies, and a shift away from the traditional model of selling hardware at a loss [2]. - A core technical reason for the price increases is the slowdown of Moore's Law, which has historically driven down costs through advancements in chip manufacturing [2][3]. Moore's Law and Its Implications - Moore's Law, proposed by Gordon Moore, suggests that the number of transistors on a chip doubles approximately every two years, but this trend is slowing down [3]. - The slowdown in chip manufacturing advancements has led to increased costs and reduced benefits from die shrink technologies, which previously allowed for smaller, more efficient chips [3][4]. Impact on Gaming Consoles - The benefits of die shrink in gaming consoles have diminished, leading to less significant improvements in size, power consumption, and heat generation [5][6]. - Historical examples, such as the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, illustrate how die shrink technology previously allowed for lower prices and improved performance, but this trend is no longer evident in the latest console generations [6][7]. Future Outlook - The gaming console market may not revert to historical pricing trends, and future price reductions are uncertain, depending on global trade agreements and advancements in manufacturing processes [8]. - The expectation is that the current trend of rising prices and stagnant technological improvements will continue, leading to a shift in consumer purchasing behavior [9].