Switch 2 Shatters Records While Apple Reinvents Design with Liquid Glass
Switch 2: Nintendo's Fastest-Selling Console Ever
On June 5, 2025, Nintendo launched the Switch 2 at $449 alongside Mario Kart World, and the results exceeded all expectations. Within four days, the console sold over 3.5 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo's fastest-selling hardware in history. The launch came despite concerns about U.S. tariffs that had rattled investors just two months earlier.
The Switch 2's success demonstrates that premium gaming hardware continues to resonate with consumers when paired with compelling software. For the Japanese gaming industry, this launch reinforces the country's position as a global leader in entertainment technology and provides a boost to the broader ecosystem of Japanese game developers and publishers.
Apple's Liquid Glass: A Design Language for the AI Era
At WWDC 2025 on June 9, Apple unveiled Liquid Glass, a translucent, reflective design language that represents the most significant visual overhaul across Apple platforms in over a decade. The new aesthetic was applied across iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and all other platforms, creating a cohesive visual identity defined by depth, translucency, and fluid motion.
For designers and agencies, Apple's design shifts have always been bellwethers for broader industry trends. The Liquid Glass aesthetic signals a move away from flat, minimal interfaces toward richer, more dimensional visual experiences. Brands and applications that align with this new direction will feel native and modern on Apple devices, while those that do not risk appearing dated.
Design Trends for the Second Half of 2025
June 2025 established clear design directions for the rest of the year. Apple's Liquid Glass pushes the industry toward dimensional, layered interfaces. Figma's AI-powered tools from the previous month democratize professional design. And the continued evolution of AI image and video generation tools means that the line between designed and generated content is becoming increasingly blurred.
For businesses operating in the Japanese market, where aesthetic quality and attention to detail are paramount, these trends present both opportunities and challenges. The opportunity lies in leveraging AI tools to produce more refined visual content at greater speed. The challenge is maintaining the distinctiveness and cultural authenticity that Japanese consumers expect from premium brands.
Ready to Transform Your Brand?
Medusa Japan combines AI innovation with Japanese design principles to create extraordinary digital experiences.
Get in TouchHow ready is your business for Japan?
Take our free 5-category scorecard and get a personalized readiness report.
Medusa Japan
Medusa Japan is a creative agency and AI product studio based in Osaka, specializing in bridging Japanese business culture with cutting-edge technology solutions.
Related Articles
The Quiet Landings: Four Mid-Size Design, Food and Tech Companies Broke Into Japan This Year — and Not One of Them Started With a Flagship
Japan's inbound investment stock hit a record 53.3 trillion yen and 61.6% of foreign-affiliated companies expect a profit this year — but the names in the headlines are always the giants. The interesting entries of 2026 were made by companies you have not heard of: an Italian bag maker with 200 stockists, an American designer with eight Japanese wholesale accounts, a burger chain on its second attempt, and a French laboratory with no sales team. None of them entered the way the guidebooks say you should.
The Death of Physical Media: Sony's 2028 Disc Cutoff, GTA 6's Code-in-a-Box, and the Fight to Own What You Buy
In a single week, the physical game quietly died. On July 1, 2026, Sony confirmed it will stop producing PlayStation discs for new games in January 2028 — days after GTA 6's boxed 'physical' edition turned out to contain no disc at all, just a download code. The convenience story is real: most sales are already digital, and fewer discs means less plastic. But the fine print is brutal — you are not buying a game, you are renting a revocable license, as 551 vanished PlayStation movies just reminded everyone. This is the last nail in the coffin for the resale economy that let gamers sell, trade, and lend — and a stress test for regulators in the EU, US, and Japan who have so far let the ownership loophole stand. Here is what changed, who loses, and why 'Stop Killing Games' is the canary every brand should be watching.