I pride myself on being able to game on a budget and have never been ashamed of being a digital-only gamer. I got my Xbox Series S on sale for $200 in 2023. It weighs less than the clunky gaming laptop it's tucked behind. The newest member of my desktop crew is a PC monitor for a PC tower I do not own, hooked up instead to my Series S. It, too, cost far more than the console, despite having purchased it as a cheaper alternative to a 4k TV. Above my glorious setup, action figures from all walks of video game life – from Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand (accompanied by a tiny Hot Wheels Porsche), Sheva from Resident Evil 5, and two different Zelda amiibos – stand sentry on a shelf; watching all, seeing nothing.
There's nary a disk drive in sight. It's never bothered me, but it does mean that the only gaming collectibles I keep track of these days are statues or figurines. I find ways of indulging myself without breaking the bank. That is, until February 2026's Nintendo Direct showcase revealed a new amiibo line that made me question myself.
