Nintendo expecting digital sales to rise, but won’t take over all of its sales
During the Q&A portion of its financial results briefing, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima commented on expectations for digital sales going forward.
Kimishima does anticipate that “the percentage of digital sales will rise steadily in the years ahead.” In fact, “the percentage of digital sales has already risen above 50% on some titles released by publishers outside Japan”. Kimishima does at the same time believe that digital won’t overtake all sales since “many consumers who purchase only packaged software”.
Kimishima said:
“I expect the percentage of digital sales will rise steadily in the years ahead. Consumers have grown accustomed to getting digital content, which is a trend that is clearly visible in the way consumers in North America and Europe purchase titles, and especially in the sales performance of titles from other publishers. Even so, there are also many consumers who purchase only packaged software, so I do not see digital content taking over all of sales. The sales ratio also differs for every software title, depending on factors like content and the age and type of consumers making the purchase, so I cannot predict how high the percentage of digital sales will rise for Nintendo. That being said, the percentage of digital sales has already risen above 50% on some titles released by publishers outside Japan, so I definitely think the percentage will rise for us.
As for the contribution to stable revenues, no contribution will be made if the percentage of digital sales increases but total unit sales of software declines. It is more important to create interesting titles that consumers want to buy.”
