TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Nintendo said on Friday it will raise prices for its Switch 2 console and other Switch products as it forecast lower hardware sales for the coming year while maintaining near-term profit. The company sold about 19.86 million Switch 2 units in the fiscal year ended March 31 and now expects to sell 16.5 million in the year to March 2027. Nintendo will revise the Japanese-language Switch 2 MSRP to ¥59,980 from ¥49,980 effective May 25, and raise prices in the U.S., Canada and Europe to $499.99 (from $449.99) and corresponding regional levels on Sept. 1. Management said higher component costs, particularly memory, plus tariff pressures and exchange-rate effects will add roughly ¥100 billion to costs this year. Nintendo also forecast software sales growth and highlighted hits such as Pokémon Pokopia, but investors flagged a thin first-party pipeline. The company projected operating profit around ¥370 billion for the year to March 2027 despite the headwinds.

Warner Bros., Legendary and Mojang have officially titled the sequel to last year’s hit adaptation A Minecraft Movie as A Minecraft Movie Squared, unveiled during Mojang’s Minecraft Live presentation at TwitchCon on May 30, 2026. Jared Hess returns to direct and co-write, with Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks confirmed to reprise roles and Kirsten Dunst joining as Alex; Matt Berry is also returning in a new part. Production footage and set images were shown, including shoots in New Zealand, and the film is slated for release on July 23, 2027. Mojang and partners launched a fan Build Challenge across Minecraft, TikTok and Twitch offering finalists private screenings and a single winner the chance to have their build featured in the film or end credits. The title reveal was coupled with wider Minecraft announcements — a June 16 “Chaos Cubed” update, teases for Minecraft Dungeons 2 and new Lego tie‑ins — underscoring an integrated push to keep the franchise prominent ahead of the sequel. The original film grossed roughly $960 million worldwide despite mixed reviews.

Acer unveiled the Nitro Blaze Link at Computex in late May 2026 as a streaming‑first handheld that pairs with its Predator and Nitro gaming laptops. The device is not a traditional handheld PC: it runs Debian Linux, has a 7‑inch 1920×1200 touchscreen, Wi‑Fi 6 (80MHz channel), 1GB LPDDR4 RAM, 8GB eMMC storage, an 18Wh battery, USB‑C (charging only) and a 3.5mm jack, and weighs about 464g. Acer positions it as a companion that decodes a stream while the host laptop handles rendering, with availability slated for Q4 2026 in North America and EMEA. Observers note the experience will hinge on local network quality and the host GPU. Pricing remains unclear: most outlets report TBD, though one outlet cited a $180 price; Acer has not confirmed retail price or broad compatibility beyond its own laptops.

Activision and developer Infinity Ward officially unveiled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on May 28, 2026, confirming an October 23, 2026 global launch. The game will arrive on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC and — for the first time in nearly 13 years — Nintendo Switch 2, fulfilling Microsoft’s previously stated 10-year commitment to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. Modern Warfare 4 will skip PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and is being billed as a current‑generation technical benchmark with the new ‘Ballistic Authority’ weapons system, revamped movement, and a Day One suite of campaign, multiplayer and DMZ extraction modes. The campaign centres on a fictional full‑scale North Korean invasion of South Korea, following both a young South Korean conscript and franchise staple Captain Price. Multiplayer will launch with 12 core 6v6 maps, new modes including Kill Block, and expanded DMZ features; an open beta window is expected ahead of launch, with early access tied to preorders. Activision also signalled winding down of Warzone support on last‑gen consoles later this year.

Activision has confirmed Call of Duty: Warzone will be removed from PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later this year as the franchise moves exclusively to current‑generation hardware. The company announced the change on May 28, 2026 alongside details for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Warzone will be delisted from PS4 and Xbox One storefronts on June 4 and its in‑game store on those platforms will close on June 25. Existing installations will remain playable until Modern Warfare 4’s Season 1 integrates with Warzone shortly after the premium game’s October 23, 2026 launch; at that point Warzone will no longer be playable on last‑gen consoles. Modern Warfare 4 is planned for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 and will skip PS4 and Xbox One. Activision says purchases tied to Activision accounts should transfer if accounts are linked, but some platform‑tied transactions may require access to a current‑gen console. The move follows rising console prices and reflects a broader industry shift away from eight‑generation hardware.

Bungie will open Marathon to all players for an Open Play Week from June 2–9 across Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with progress earned during the trial carrying over into Season 2. The update coincides with a full seasonal reset that wipes inventories so newcomers and returning players start even. Season 2 adds Night Marsh, a darker, survival‑horror variant of Dire Marsh, the Sentinel defensive Runner shell (Defender System turret, Snare Mine, Prey Tracker and Castle Doctrine passive), the Cradle progression system that converts unwanted gear into stat upgrades, and new weapons including the KKV‑9SD SMG and D54 Battle Pistol. Bungie is also expanding matchmaking (duos queue) and returning high‑tier zones across the launch window. The week will include a sale on the title. The push comes as Marathon’s sales and concurrent players have lagged since launch, a Steam review‑bomb trailed Destiny 2’s wind‑down, and Bungie plans a final Destiny 2 content update on June 9 amid reports of significant layoffs.