For about 15 years, big-budget Nintendo games cost $60. In fact, that was the standard game price across the industry.

Meanwhile, Nintendo's consoles are generally cheaper than most competing gaming systems, such as the Xbox and the PlayStation. Its consoles have never cost more than $300 — until now.

At $450, the Switch 2 is Nintendo's priciest console. Mario Kart World is priced at $80 — the most expensive first-party title Nintendo has ever released. Some fans are outraged by the price increase. But some industry analysts say a price hike was overdue, considering the rising costs of game development and inflation, among other factors.

So why is Nintendo suddenly so expensive? And what does an $80 game mean for Nintendo and the entire video game industry?

A US aid agency backed by Israel has established distribution hubs in Gaza, but the UN is concerned this may forcibly displace Gazans and trigger chaos among a population on the brink of famine.