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What Makes a Skin Easy to Sell Without Waiting
This guide explains the intricacies of Counter-Strike 2 skin trading, comparing it to financial markets like Forex and Bitcoin. It covers what CS2 skins are, their rarity and wear levels, how to acquire them, and strategies for selling them effectively, including identifying profitable items, pricing, and choosing the right platforms.
Pokémon TCG's 151 Cards Continue to Skyrocket in Value After 30th Anniversary Celebrations - IGN
The Pokémon Trading Card Game market is experiencing significant value increases, particularly for cards from the Scarlet & Violet - 151 set, coinciding with the franchise's 30th anniversary. Specific cards like Charizard ex, Blastoise ex, and Venusaur ex are seeing substantial price jumps, driven by collector demand and their iconic status. Other sets like Ascended Heroes and XY Double Crisis also feature cards with notable market movements.
US Market Spending On New Physical Game Copies In 2025 Reaches Lowest Point Since 1995
US market spending on new physical game copies is projected to reach its lowest point in 2025, a trend not seen since 1995. February's PlayStation download charts show Resident Evil Requiem topping both US and EU PS5 charts, indicating a continued interest in zombie-themed games.
Gaming PCs will be too expensive for ordinary people by 2028 predicts report
A report from Gartner predicts that PC hardware will become prohibitively expensive for average consumers by 2028 due to ongoing component shortages and rising costs. This trend is expected to significantly impact the entry-level PC market, potentially leading to a decline in PC shipments and influencing console manufacturers' strategies.
Physical Game Sales Hit All-Time Low in the US
Physical game sales in the US have hit an all-time low of $1.5 billion in 2025, according to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella. While the market is in decline, the year-on-year drop of 11% is the smallest since 2021. Digital sales continue to grow, with platform holders like Sony and Microsoft favoring digital storefronts and consoles without disc drives.
PCs under $500 to "disappear by 2028." Apparently water's wet, too.
The PC market, particularly entry-level laptops, is projected to become nonviable by 2028 due to rising memory and SSD costs. This trend is exacerbated by the continued high consumption of AI chips, which are expected to drive up hardware prices.
US game spending declines by 15% in January 2025
US video game spending in January 2025 decreased by 15% year-over-year, reaching $4.5 billion, partly due to a shorter tracking period. While mobile gaming and subscription services saw growth, significant drops in hardware sales, particularly for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch, contributed to the overall decline. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth saw a surge in sales following its Steam release, though Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 remained the best-selling game.
Top 10 best-selling video games in Europe in 2024
The European video game market saw a 1% growth in 2024, with 188.1 million PC and console games sold. Digital sales increased by 15% while physical sales dropped by 22%. EA Sports FC 25 was the best-selling game, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Helldivers 2 emerged as the top new IP. Console sales declined across all platforms, with Xbox Series X|S experiencing the largest drop.