Nintendo dropped some major news during its "Nintendo Direct" presentation yesterday (April 2), unveiling the latest details for the new console, the Nintendo Switch 2. While new games and pre-order methods certainly sparked discussion, the Japanese domestic price tag of 49,980 yen also became a hot topic.
Soon after, a hilarious conspiracy theory started making the rounds on Japanese X (formerly Twitter): "Waddle Dees are being held captive in Nintendo's underground factory, crying while frantically mass-producing the Switch 2!" What started as a simple joke unexpectedly blew up, with countless netizens dreaming up all sorts of wild scenarios.
The Nintendo Switch 2's domestic Japanese price is 49,980 yen.
It might seem out of left field, but once the price was announced, many wondered how Nintendo managed to keep costs so low, allowing players to snag a Switch 2 for less than 50,000 yen, especially with the depreciating yen and ongoing semiconductor shortages. That's when the bizarre "Waddle Dee Labor Theory" took hold.
According to the theory, these poor Waddle Dees are paid a measly single "Maxim Tomato" for their daily wages! It's this ruthless exploitation of labor costs, the joke goes, that allows the Switch 2 to be sold at such an unbelievably low price!
And of course, artists quickly jumped in with their own fan art!
However, some netizens pointed out that personnel costs have historically never been a significant portion of Nintendo's production expenses. Perhaps that's the real reason (?).
The reason for this particular joke lies in the Waddle Dees' role in the "Kirby" series. They are loyal servants to King Dedede, the self-proclaimed ruler of Dream Land. These docile Waddle Dees are practically tireless, toiling away for minimal rewards—a perfect parallel to Japan's "shachiku" (corporate drone) culture.
But hey, the original poster's comparison of getting a "Maxim Tomato" might actually be too generous! That's an item that fully restores health, so maybe their compensation isn't quite that good, LOL.
While it's all in good fun, the "Waddle Dee Labor Theory" certainly became a trending topic among netizens. It also serves as a humorous indicator that Japanese players are quite pleased with the Switch 2's pricing. As for whether Waddle Dees are actually toiling away in Nintendo's basement, perhaps we should ask Masahiro Sakurai!
via： togetter