Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Day Creates Gaming Frenzy—Here's What You Missed

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Today’s Insights

• Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched yesterday (June 5) with Mario Kart World leading the charge

• PlayStation surprises with same-day State of Play announcement happening TODAY

• Summer Game Fest 2025 begins June 6 with major publishers returning to the spotlight

• Gaming industry layoffs continue but hiring finally outpaces firing for first time in 30 months

• 79% of developers now view AI positively despite growing concerns about job displacement

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THIS WEEK IN GAMING

Nintendo Switch 2 Mania Hits Peak as Console Launches

The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here. Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched yesterday on June 5, 2025, and the gaming world is losing its collective mind. The console launches at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of 49,980 yen (roughly $450 USD), with the Mario Kart World bundle available for 53,980 yen. Best Buy stores were even opening at midnight for early adopters who want to be first in line.

This isn't just another console launch—it's a cultural event. Best Buy stores across the U.S. opened at 12:01 a.m. ET for pre-order pickup and walk-in purchases, with customers getting limited-edition commemorative coins featuring special Best Buy and Nintendo branding. The excitement is so intense that GameTruck theaters visited more than 100 Best Buy stores over 10 weeks, letting fans battle it out in Mario Kart World and experiment with the Switch 2's new features.

But what makes this launch so special? The Switch 2 features magnetic Joy-Con controllers that can function as computer mice, more powerful processing speed and graphics performance, and GameCube classics launching alongside the system. Plus, Mario Kart World introduces an open-world racing experience where everything is connected, featuring new Knockout Tour mode and Free Roam exploration.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. With Summer Game Fest starting and PlayStation's surprise State of Play that just happened, Nintendo has positioned the Switch 2 launch right in the middle of gaming's biggest week. Whether you're camping out at Best Buy or waiting for the hype to die down, one thing's for sure—gaming just got a whole lot more interesting.

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DEVELOPER INSIGHTS

Gaming Layoffs Finally Slow Down, But AI Anxiety Reaches New Heights

There's finally some good news on the jobs front. Gaming hiring champion Amir Satvat predicted in January that hiring would exceed firing for the first time in around 30 months, and that prediction came true. Based on actual data and forecasting, 2025 gaming layoffs are currently trending at 6,145 versus the initial forecast of 9,769—the most encouraging gap Satvat has seen since he started tracking this data.

But the industry isn't out of the woods yet. The 2025 GDC survey revealed that one of every 11 game developers lost a job in the past year, with 41% of developers reporting the impact of layoffs on their companies. The cuts hit narrative teams hardest, with 19% of laid-off developers working in game narrative—the highest of any demographic.

Meanwhile, AI sentiment has completely flipped. In 2024, 21% of developers viewed AI positively and 18% negatively. For 2025, those numbers flipped dramatically: 13% positive and 30% negative. Yet paradoxically, 79% of game developers now feel positive about AI's impact according to Unity's 2025 Gaming Report. This contradiction suggests developers see AI's potential while worrying about its implementation.

The human cost behind the numbers is real. Some notable studios like Behaviour Interactive and Funcom maintained classic booth presences at PAX East, but something felt different—a shift toward smaller, more independent creative voices. As one industry expert put it, this is the only creative industry where one person can make $100 million creating something entirely by themselves. Maybe that's where the future lies.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

PlayStation Shakes Up Summer Game Fest with Last-Minute State of Play Drop

Sony just pulled the ultimate surprise move. PlayStation announced yesterday that State of Play returns today, June 4, at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 11pm CEST, featuring a 40+ minute showcase of "must-play games coming to PS5". Talk about perfect timing—dropping this news just one day before Nintendo Switch 2 launches and two days before Summer Game Fest begins.

This wasn't part of the original plan. Sony announced the State of Play only a day before airing the showcase, which is typical for the company but still caught everyone off guard as a last-minute addition to the Summer Game Fest schedule. The show will highlight "a selection of great games from creators across the globe" and Sony didn't specify if it would focus on third-party games, suggesting we might see first-party announcements.

Speculation is running wild about what Sony will show. Fans expect to see Housemarque's upcoming game Saros, Ghost of Yotei getting a new trailer, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach updates since it releases soon, and potentially Sony's multiplayer projects like Marathon and Fairgames. There are even rumors about a God of War offshoot project and heavily rumored Resident Evil 9.

The timing strategy is brilliant. By announcing State of Play today, Sony ensures PlayStation gets attention before Nintendo Switch 2 domination tomorrow and Summer Game Fest chaos starts Friday. It's a masterclass in not getting buried in the news cycle. Plus, with Summer Game Fest featuring partnerships with PlayStation, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox, Steam, 2K, Epic Games and Square Enix, today's show serves as the perfect appetizer for the week-long gaming feast ahead.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Summer Game Fest 2025 Brings Back the Magic with Nintendo's Surprise Return

The biggest gaming week of the year is finally here. Summer Game Fest 2025 kicks off Friday, June 6, at 2 pm PDT / 5 pm EDT / 10 pm BST with Geoff Keighley hosting a two-hour broadcast from the YouTube Theater promising "spectacular new video game announcements, surprises and reveals". After E3's official death in 2023, Summer Game Fest has become the industry's biggest stage.

Nintendo's return is the story everyone's talking about. Among the biggest surprises is Nintendo returning to the event for the first time in years, having skipped the 2023 and 2024 editions to focus on standalone Nintendo Directs. Even more intriguing, Nintendo is listed specifically as "Nintendo Switch 2" on the participant roster, suggesting they're attending specifically to promote the new console launching June 5.

The lineup is absolutely stacked this year. The first batch of confirmed participants includes 57 companies, ranging from Amazon Games and Devolver Digital to Square Enix and IO Interactive. Embark Studios is also on the list, and given the hype around their upcoming extraction shooter Arc Raiders, there's high hopes for a release date announcement.

But it's not just about the big names. The event includes indie-focused presentations like the Wholesome Games showcase featuring "about 60" cozy games, Access-Ability's showcase spotlighting disabled game developers, and Day of the Devs highlighting underrepresented creators. There's even a Women-Led Games showcase returning for their second year and a Latin American Indies presentation featuring 50+ titles. Summer Game Fest proves that gaming's biggest week isn't just about AAA blockbusters—it's about celebrating the entire spectrum of interactive entertainment.

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