Nintendo’s earnings are in, and once again they’re not pretty. Despite a year of amazing launches on 3DS, the Japanese gaming
giant has turned in another financial
loss for the year – the third on the trot. The Wii U just isn’t selling, and it’s hurting the company’s bottom line, but all is not lost. Nintendo revealed its fightback strategy to the press yesterday, and it’s a doozy: not only does it have Skylanders style interactive Mario toys on the way, it’s even prepping smartphone apps and a secret new console. No, really.
giant has turned in another financial loss for the year – the third on the trot. The Wii U just isn’t selling, and it’s hurting the company’s bottom line, but all is not lost. Nintendo revealed its fightback strategy to the press yesterday, and it’s a doozy: not only does it have Skylanders style interactive Mario toys on the way, it’s even prepping smartphone apps and a secret new console. No, really.
After posting a 46.4 billion yen loss (£269 million), Nintendo has revealed how it plans to fight back against the likes of Sony and Microsoft, whose own next-generation consoles have far outsold the Wii U in just a few short months. First up, the company will release a new – and presumably low priced – console for developing countries, and intriguingly, it won’t just be a DS or a Wii.
, whose own next-generation consoles have far outsold the Wii U in just a few short months. First up, the company will release a new – and presumably low priced – console for developing countries, and intriguingly, it won’t just be a DS or a Wii.
“We want to make new things, with new thinking rather than a cheaper version of what we currently have,” Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata told Bloomberg News. It’s not yet clear how that would work, but the company did file a patent application for a handheld with interchangeable buttons last October – could this be what it has plans?
application for a handheld with interchangeable buttons last October – could this be what it has plans?
Alongside a new console, Nintendo will also make use of the NFC tech inside the Wii U’s gamepad by launching its own line of interactive toys to compete with Activision’s Skylanders. The Nintendo Figurine Platform will make its debut at E3 next month, with the first compatiblegames coming this Christmas – there will even be 3DS games next year too, that will work via a 3D reader accessory.
That won’t be enough to bring adults back to Nintendo, but it’s betting that smartphone appswill help. Nintendo also announced its first ever app – Mario Kart TV – which will work on smartphones and web browsers, let you see videos of your races and your position on the leaderboard.
In the age of Twitch game streaming on mobile and consoles, it’s a start at least, but will it be enough? What do you think of Nintendo’s strategy? Will it get it back in the game or should it make the move to mobile already? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
? Will it get it back in the game or should it make the move to mobile already? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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