Nintendo financial results briefing live blog – October 31, 2019
Following the release of its latest financial results, Nintendo is now holding a briefing to cover various topics surrounding the company. David Gibson is in attendance, and is sharing information from the event. We’ll be rounding up the tidbits as they come in below.
Presentation
– Switch Lite has generated unique demand, has not impacted the rest of the Switch family
– Lite owners have 43% women, 57% men
– It is not first gaming device for many users, shared among family members
– Nintendo wants to build the Switch Lite as first device for Nintendo customers
– Mario Kart Tour will begin beta for real time multiplayer in December
– Game has had record downloads and users, users continue to grow
– Super Mario Maker 2 has had 8 million courses built, played more than 400 million times
– Fire Emblem: Three Houses has sold more than 50% from the west
– Switch first-party software total for 1H +53% YoY
– In April-Sept period, first-party title sales was 63% catalog (March 2019 or earlier launch) and 37% for new titles
– Switch new models boosted Switch sell-through by 72% JP for Jul-Sep, 25% in NA, and 25% in EU
– Will continue to enrich the content for Nintendo Switch Online
– Luigi’s Mansion 3 launched yesterday, multiplayer is available in every modes, with up to 8 people can play in party
– Ring Fit adventure users are mainly in 20s and 30s, lot of female users as well
– Nintendo store opens in Tokyo on Nov 22nd, will be able to have gaming adventures
– Switch going strong, think there is business opportunity to expand more, plans for theme parks, IP and beyond
Q&A
– Question was about Lite sales so strong overseas, second device usage is not different by region
– Lite usage different? Initial purchaser of Lite are core users, especially those who had played Zelda portable before, think will change as expand sales
– Digital view long term? Customers like the convenience of download with some titles majority DL, but also DL only titles is expanding, add on contents like Smash Bros characters, plus Switch online
– Title plans for Lite? Not thinking reboot old titles but rather what titles are suitable for this new Lite
– Switch v Lite profits? No difference in OPM but given lower price the absolute amount is less for Lite
– China update? Tencent making preparations, they will announce, not included in guidance but if happened then would be small
– Mario Kart Tour KPIs? Not saying, think will pass 300 million downloads achieved by Super Mario Run, initial performance has gone well
– KT china plans? No plans, not say, need to monitor how game is going, need to continue discussing for launching in China
– Pricing strategy for Switch? Want to come up with appropriate pricing, not come up with discounting, want to have longer life of hardware and hence profitability
