Latest news with #Kuro
New York Post
29-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Personal submarines, prostitutes and simulated warfare: Inside the insanely luxurious world of billionaires' superyachts
They've got safe houses in New Zealand and private planes full of jet fuel, but cruise-ship-sized yachts are how the planet's richest people plan to escape a world gone to hell. That's why, for the yacht industry, bad times are often boom times. 'I expect 2025 to be a good year,' Anders Kurtén, the CEO of the brokerage Fraser Yachts Monaco office, told The Post. The pandemic led to a rise in yacht sales, and he sees the 'same type of psychological mechanisms at work' right now. 9 When it's delivered in 2027, REV OCEAN will be 639.3 feet, making it the biggest yacht in the world. 'It's the ultimate personal freedom,' he said. The growth in yacht sales has happened despite sanctions against Russian buyers, who had previously made up 25% of the top end of the market. 'That's really been backfilled by the Americans, who seem to have this new, hungry appetite for very large yachts,' said Jonathan Beckett, CEO of yacht brokerage Burgess, which has 17 offices across the globe, from New York to Hong Kong. 'I never thought I'd see Americans buying and building boats of this size . But they are.' The largest super-, mega- and giga- yachts can be more than 500 feet and cost half a billion. Jeff Bezos' $500 million Kuro stretches to 417 feet and it doesn't even crack the world's top 10 largest. The US's 902 billionaires are still finding fresh ways to enhance these floating mansions. Yachts like the 255-foot ENERGY— which Fraser is listing for €199 million, or roughly $230 million — have Steinway baby grand pianos in the music lounges, beauty salons and beach clubs as standard kit.. 'You'll have a full spa team with a beauty technician and a big boat will have a Botox specialist on board,' said Philippa Smith, the founder and managing director of Silver Swan Recruitment, which staffs the yachts, homes and chalets of the global 1% from their offices in London, Miami and Dubai. 9 Jeff Bezos' Koru stretches 417 feet. AbacaPress / She said that the level of service available on today's yachts now greatly exceeds that of even the most luxurious mansions — because where a dozen or so domestic staffers can run a big house, a large yacht may have a crew of 100. At sea, where there's no one to judge, you can simply get away with more. 'I spoke to someone recently who was hiring a naturopath, which is someone that is on board all the time, offering natural treatments, detox plans and daily wellness. You wouldn't have that at home,' she said. 'Obviously you will have a chef, but you might have a specialty Japanese sushi chef for a particular voyage. You'll have a sommelier, a full water sports team, a DJ, a florist, a drone specialist, full security and for children a plethora of nannies, governesses and specialist educators like a marine biologist.' She recalled an incident where a client's 7-year-old didn't enjoy the yogurt on board. At the snap of a finger, the yacht's chief stewardess had the preferred yogurt sent from Russia by private plane, which met the yacht's helicopter in Corsica — and the choosy child's breakfast was saved. 9 Bezos and his new wife, Lauren Sanchez, enjoy yachting in the South of France. EOUS / 9 Koru features Sanchez's likeness on the bow. AbacaPress / 'Even though these guests are very wealthy and very intelligent, they are dumb in some senses, because they'll be in the middle of the ocean and be requesting the most ridiculous things, bearing in mind you can't just go to a shop,' she said. 'The helicopters are used because they want a particular Champagne tonight.' A yacht is the ultimate catbird seat from which to watch the world burn, argues Evan Osnos in his new book 'The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich' (Scribner, out now). His subjects range from the booming trade in palatial yachts and doomsday prepping in Silicon Valley, to con-artists like Guo Wengui and the shape-shifting politics of Mark Zuckerberg. But his juiciest reporting reveals how an ostensibly money-losing operation like yachting gels in a parsimonious billionaire's psyche. 9 The vessel has a host of luxe amenities. Mike Guillen/NY Post 'Gigayachts,' he writes, are 'the most expensive objects our species has ever owned — and, as a Silicon Valley CEO put it to me, the best way to 'absorb the most excess capital.' While a single yacht may cost more than a billionaire's entire real estate portfolio, produce as much greenhouse gas as 1500 passenger cars and depreciate like a ton of lead, not having a permanent address is priceless, he argues. 'Much of the time, superyachts dwell beyond the reach of ordinary law enforcement,' Osnos writes. 'They cruise in international waters, and, when they dock, local cops tend to give them a wide berth; the boats often have private security, and their owners may well be friends with the prime minister.' One use-case: moving art, jewels or other big ticket items duty-free. Another: taking clandestine business meetings. 'One deal secured on board will pay it all back many times over,' a yacht captain tells Onsnos, 'and it is pretty hard to say no after your kids have been hosted so well for a week.' 9 Other superyachts feature everything from music lounges with grand pianos (above) to onboard beauty salons. 9 Personal submarines are a popular toy aboard huge yachts. Nick Verola Not only does the yachting class enjoy exotic deliveries — bagels from Zabar's, sex workers, a rare melon from the island of Hokkaido' and flamboyant finishes — eel leather seats, a personal submarine, a mini ski-slope — there are also over-the-top amusements. In the book, Andrew Grant Super, a cofounder of the 'experiential yachting' firm Berkeley Rand in Londons, discloses a few of the yachting experiences he creates for 'bored billionaires.' 'We can plot half of the Pacific Ocean with coordinates, to map out the Battle of Midway,' Super tells Oscnos. 'We re-create the full-blown battles of the giant ships from America and Japan. The kids have haptic guns and haptic vests. We put the smell of cordite and cannon fire on board, pumping around them… We fly 3-D-printed, architectural freestanding restaurants into the middle of the Maldives, on a sand shelf that can only last another eight hours before it disappears.' 9 Evan Osnos details the yachting exploits of the billionaire class in his new book. The world's biggest yacht, REV OCEAN is specifically designed to offer that type of boundary pushing adventure. When it's delivered in 2027, it will stretch 639.3 feet — only slightly shorter than Trump Tower — gliding guests to expedition sites in the Arctic Circle, the Galapagos and some of earth's least visited realms in seven-star comfort. Unlike mere pleasure craft, REV is decked out with a state-of-the-art research command center, where real scientists will polish their PhDs, while CEOs play gentleman explorer. It's the newest plaything for Norway's richest man, billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke. 'It's a bit like an SUV or a four-wheel drive vehicle,' says Beckett, who is exclusively chartering REV OCEAN. 'A lot of people want to go off the beaten track. We have a client at the moment, who is wanting to do something in the Amazon or in Antarctica. He's done, and he will continue to do, St Tropez, Mykonos and St. Barts, but he's looking to give his family some really interesting experiences. And there's a lot of people like that.' 9 REV OCEAN is being built for Norway's richest man, billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke. Life on board a top yacht has become so excessive that one owner tells Osnos, 'if you don't have some guilt about it, you're a rat.' But the venture capitalist yachtsman Bill Duker puts the situation in even more dramatic terms, telling Osnos, 'If the rest of the world learns what it's like to live on a yacht like this, they're gonna bring back the guillotine.'
CNA
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
TOKYO: Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 on Thursday (Jun 5), the console that could score record early sales for the Japanese Super Mario creator. The device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as Animal Crossing. The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the third-best-selling console ever. Nintendo fans, including 24-year-old Lei Wang, a recent graduate from China, queued to collect their devices at a Tokyo electronics store on Thursday morning. He had been "shocked" to win a pre-order lottery because none of his friends had been selected. "It's basically just me who got picked ... so I don't really want to say anything" to them, he laughed. Shinichi Sekiguchi, 31, said he was so excited he forgot to bring his phone, while 33-year-old Kuro said she had taken a day off work to use her new device. "The improved graphics and the ability to play with a larger group - I think that's a big deal," she said. Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he "would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months". Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2 in Japan - an "insane number the industry has never seen before", Toto told AFP. WORTH THE PRICE? The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse. New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers. However, Nintendo has its work cut out to match the overall success of the original. Challenges include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device. The Switch 2 costs US$449.99 in the United States, more than the original's launch price of US$299.99. Both are hybrid consoles that can connect to a TV or be played on the go. New Switch 2 games such as Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World - which allows players to go exploring off-grid - are also more expensive than existing titles. "After playing it, I think it's worth the price," Steven Paterno, a 24-year-old aspiring filmmaker, told AFP at a Nintendo launch event in New York City. He had been waiting outside the Rockefeller Center's Nintendo store for a month and a half, part of a group of around 20 die-hard fans desperate to be first in line. "I loved the original Switch, but I had to admit the Switch 2 really tops it," Paterno said. CANCELLED PRE-ORDERS Retailers in the United States, Europe and other major markets are gearing up for a rush of excited fans, with some stores opening at midnight to welcome them. "I'm very excited to pick it up at midnight," 22-year-old graduate Angel Caceres said at the New York launch event. "I'm going to be very tired after that." Supply pressures have forced some retailers to cancel orders, with Britain's Game saying it is "working hard to reinstate as many affected pre-orders as possible". Nintendo forecasts it will ship 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original console in the same period after its release. The Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared with its predecessor, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May. So it "will not be easy" to keep initial momentum going, he warned.
News24
05-06-2025
- Business
- News24
Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
• For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 on Thursday, the console that could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator. The device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as "Animal Crossing". The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the third-best-selling console ever. Nintendo fans, including 24-year-old Lei Wang, a recent graduate from China, queued to collect their devices at a Tokyo electronics store on Thursday morning. He had been "shocked" to win a pre-order lottery because none of his friends had been selected. "It's basically just me who got picked... so I don't really want to say anything" to them, he laughed. Shinichi Sekiguchi, 31, said he was so excited he forgot to bring his phone, while 33-year-old Kuro said she had taken a day off work to use her new device. "The improved graphics and the ability to play with a larger group - I think that's a big deal," she said. Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he "would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months". Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2 in Japan -=- an "insane number the industry has never seen before", Toto told AFP. Pricey The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse. New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers. However, Nintendo has its work cut out to match the overall success of the original. Challenges include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device. The Switch 2 costs $449.99 (R8 000) in the United States, more than the original's launch price of $299.99. Both are hybrid consoles that can connect to a TV or be played on the go. New Switch 2 games such as "Donkey Kong Bananza" and "Mario Kart World" - which allows players to go exploring off-grid - are also more expensive than existing titles. "After playing it, I think it's worth the price," Steven Paterno, a 24-year-old aspiring filmmaker, told AFP at a Nintendo launch event in New York City. He had been waiting outside the Rockefeller Center's Nintendo store for a month and a half, part of a group of around 20 die-hard fans desperate to be first in line. "I loved the original Switch, but I had to admit the Switch 2 really tops it," Paterno said. Cancelled pre-orders Retailers in the United States, Europe and other major markets are gearing up for a rush of excited fans, with some stores opening at midnight to welcome them. "I'm very excited to pick it up at midnight," 22-year-old graduate Angel Caceres said at the New York launch event. "I'm going to be very tired after that." Supply pressures have forced some retailers to cancel orders, with Britain's Game saying it is "working hard to reinstate as many affected pre-orders as possible". Nintendo forecasts it will ship 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original console in the same period after its release. The Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared with its predecessor, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May. So it "will not be easy" to keep initial momentum going, he warned. While Nintendo is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, around 90 percent of its revenue still comes from the Switch business, analysts say.
Malay Mail
05-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Switch 2 finally lands: ‘Shocked' fans score coveted console as Nintendo braces for record sales despite high price tag
TOKYO, June 5 — Gamers today finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 console, which could score record early sales for the Japanese 'Super Mario' creator. Featuring a bigger screen and more processing power, the device is an upgrade to the Switch, which became a global phenomenon with hit games such as 'Animal Crossing'. The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the third best-selling console ever. At a Tokyo electronics store on Thursday morning, Nintendo fans — including 24-year-old Lei Wang, a recent graduate from China — queued to collect their devices. He had been 'shocked' to win a pre-order lottery, as none of his friends had been selected. 'It's basically just me who got picked... so I don't really want to say anything' to them, he laughed. Shinichi Sekiguchi, 31, said he was so excited he forgot to bring his phone, while 33-year-old Kuro said she had taken a day off work to play with her new device. 'The improved graphics and the ability to play with a larger group — I think that's a big deal,' she said. Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he 'would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months'. In Japan, Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2 — an 'insane number the industry has never seen before', Toto told AFP. Boxes containing Nintendo Switch 2 consoles are stacked up at an electronics retailer in Tokyo on June 5, 2025. — AFP pic Worth the price? The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch, and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse. New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers. Nintendo has its work cut out to match the overall success of the original, however. Challenges include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device. The Switch 2 costs $449.99 in the United States, more than the original's launch price of $299.99. Both are hybrid consoles which can connect to a TV or be played on the go. New Switch 2 games such as 'Donkey Kong Bananza' and 'Mario Kart World' — which allow players to go exploring off-grid — are also more expensive than existing titles. 'After playing it, I think it's worth the price,' 24-year-old aspiring filmmaker Steven Paterno told AFP at a Nintendo launch event in New York City. 'I loved the original Switch, but I had to admit the Switch 2 really tops it.' A customers purchases Nintendo Switch 2 at an electronics retailer in Tokyo on June 5, 2025. — AFP pic Cancelled pre-orders Retailers in the United States, Europe and other major markets are gearing up for a rush of excited fans, with some stores opening at midnight to welcome them. 'I'm very excited to pick it up at midnight,' 22-year-old graduate Angel Caceres said at the New York launch event. 'I'm going to be very tired after that.' Supply pressures have forced some retailers to cancel orders, with Britain's Game saying it is 'working hard to reinstate as many affected pre-orders as possible'. Nintendo forecasts it will ship 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original console in the same period after its release. The Switch 2 'is priced relatively high' compared to its predecessor, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May. So it 'will not be easy' to keep initial momentum going, he warned. While Nintendo is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, around 90 percent of its revenue still comes from the Switch business, analysts say. — AFP
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
Gamers on Thursday finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 console, which could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator. Featuring a bigger screen and more processing power, the device is an upgrade to the Switch, which became a global phenomenon with hit games such as "Animal Crossing". The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the third best-selling console ever. At a Tokyo electronics store on Thursday morning, Nintendo fans -- including 24-year-old Lei Wang, a recent graduate from China -- queued to collect their devices. He had been "shocked" to win a pre-order lottery, as none of his friends had been selected. "It's basically just me who got picked... so I don't really want to say anything" to them, he laughed. Shinichi Sekiguchi, 31, said he was so excited he forgot to bring his phone, while 33-year-old Kuro said she had taken a day off work to play with her new device. "The improved graphics and the ability to play with a larger group -- I think that's a big deal," she said. Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he "would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months". In Japan, Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2 -- an "insane number the industry has never seen before", Toto told AFP. - Worth the price? - The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch, and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse. New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers. Nintendo has its work cut out to match the overall success of the original, however. Challenges include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device. The Switch 2 costs $449.99 in the United States, more than the original's launch price of $299.99. Both are hybrid consoles which can connect to a TV or be played on the go. New Switch 2 games such as "Donkey Kong Bananza" and "Mario Kart World" -- which allow players to go exploring off-grid -- are also more expensive than existing titles. "After playing it, I think it's worth the price," 24-year-old aspiring filmmaker Steven Paterno told AFP at a Nintendo launch event in New York City. "I loved the original Switch, but I had to admit the Switch 2 really tops it." - Cancelled pre-orders - Retailers in the United States, Europe and other major markets are gearing up for a rush of excited fans, with some stores opening at midnight to welcome them. "I'm very excited to pick it up at midnight," 22-year-old graduate Angel Caceres said at the New York launch event. "I'm going to be very tired after that." Supply pressures have forced some retailers to cancel orders, with Britain's Game saying it is "working hard to reinstate as many affected pre-orders as possible". Nintendo forecasts it will ship 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original console in the same period after its release. The Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared to its predecessor, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May. So it "will not be easy" to keep initial momentum going, he warned. While Nintendo is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, around 90 percent of its revenue still comes from the Switch business, analysts say.
