The atmosphere in offline stores in May was a mix of tension and vibrancy. This was due to major console manufacturers announcing price hikes, creating a kind of 'panic buying' among users eager to secure consoles before the increase and consumers preparing gifts for Family Month.

This phenomenon was particularly pronounced with the relatively late release of the Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo camp was already facing hardware supply shortages due to surging demand for titles like Pokemon Pockepia, Friends Island, and Pokemon Legends Z-A. With the news of price increases on top of this, the sentiment that 'now is the cheapest time to buy' felt palpable throughout the month.

Nintendo stores experienced a factor far greater than the usual 'Family Month boom' for the first time in a while. Not only were domestic users rushing to buy hardware before prices went up, but overseas visitors to Korea also flocked to stores seeking consoles, leading to widespread stockouts. The situation was so dire that even the 'Mario Kart Bundle,' which usually garnered comments of 'it's expensive,' completely sold out.

While there was a Family Month surge, reports suggest stores weren't as crowded as in previous years. The staggered holidays around Children's Day at the beginning of May dispersed visitor traffic, reducing congestion. In terms of software, there were no standout new releases to shake up the market, but the 'Animal Crossing,' 'Pokemon,' and 'Mario' lineups, often purchased alongside hardware, showed a resurgence.

Content leveraging 'Friends Island Two-Too-Excited Life,' the sequel to the once-hugely popular 'Friends Apartment,' garnered attention on social media and communities, contributing to steady sales. Additionally, third-party titles like Biohazard Requiem were surprisingly well-received.

In line with this, the movie 'Super Mario Galaxy' premiere saw a significant surge in sales for the 'Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2' bundle in stores near cinemas. An official from Daewon Shop at Yongsan I'Park Mall, a prominent Nintendo retailer, reported that sales of the Mario Galaxy bundle had increased approximately fivefold compared to the previous month.

The Sony camp also felt the full impact of the price increases. The prices of both the PS5 and PS5 Pro went up at the start of May. According to store officials, despite the price hike news, more users opted for the more expensive PS5 Pro. The prevailing opinion seems to be that if it's going to be expensive anyway, it's better to invest a bit more for a long-term, value-for-money high-end device.

Conversely, peripherals that enhance convenience, such as the PS Portal and the disc drive, reportedly saw a dip in sales. While there were various speculations about the disc drive being the only hardware to have its price reduced, it's understood this reflects the declining demand as gamers increasingly prefer digital purchases over physical copies.

On the software front, there were no clear breakout hits for Children's Day, though '007 First Light' reportedly saw surprisingly high demand. The 'Lollipop Chainsaw Re-Pop' package also gained moderate popularity due to its reasonable price and improved graphics. With the PlayStation Showcase approaching in early June, the software lineup's momentum doesn't seem likely to wane anytime soon.

Furthermore, the high-oil-price damage relief subsidies, which began distribution in mid-May, prompted many gamers to visit offline stores. As the subsidies were issued in point form and couldn't be used on used-goods trading platforms or online payment services, shoppers were compelled to visit smaller offline retailers.

This trend bears similarities to the 'Civilian Recovery Consumption Coupon' distribution last July, but consumer patterns have reportedly diverged. Unlike last year, when demand for used AAA titles was high during the holiday period, May saw a preference for games suitable for family enjoyment or as gifts. Additionally, with the recent influx of cost-effective third-party controllers, more users are reportedly visiting stores to purchase these discounted accessories.