This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Around a year has passed since Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was first released, and more than half of the currently active users have continued playing the game since the initial release last year. The game has sustained a number of continually active users, particularly among adult female consumers. By continually tweaking the game content and frequently holding various events, we have managed to gradually improve the business situation for this game. We are progressing with the development of an update that will broaden the scope of the gameplay. Details will be announced closer to the time of the update.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Fire Emblem Heroes continues to grow, with a sustained number of active users and total sales rising at a steady pace. The share outside of Japan continues to expand gradually, and the number of active users outside of Japan has already surpassed the number inside Japan. This is one example where sustained operation of a smart-device application has led to the cultivation of markets outside of Japan. We plan a major update to Version 3.0 around the end of the year and intend to keep pouring effort into development and operation so even greater numbers of consumers continue to enjoy the game.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
It has been almost two years since the release of Super Mario Run, but the number of downloads still continues to grow and the application is now installed on nearly 300 million devices around the world. Downloads in countries outside of Japan continue and now account for over 90% of the total. As an evergreen Nintendo title for every owner of a smart device, it has entered a cycle where a certain stable number of new downloads take place every month. The application is significant in that it brings Mario to a wide range of consumers in countries and regions not touched by our dedicated video game platform business. In this regard, it plays an important role in helping to maximize the number of people exposed to Nintendo IP.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Dragalia Lost, a new and original game application developed in collaboration with Cygames, was released on September 27. Initially, distribution was going to be limited to the four regions of Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, but the US was added when the service began for the title.
This title is an original application using completely new IP, and no existing Nintendo IP. Even so, the game attracted lots of consumer interest in the US and the rest of Asia, let alone Japan, even before the service launch, with over 1 million people pre-registering for this title. This confirmed the presence of a certain number of consumers who are keen to play this game, and even though the service launch was only slightly more than one month ago, we have already recorded sales approaching 4 billion yen by now since its service launch on September 27. In the US, the game achieved a high user-review rating of 4.8 stars in the App Store, indicating a positive reception for the game’s content. Summing this up, we think we could state that this has been a steady kick-off as a challenge for creating new IP that has been embraced by consumers around the globe. Going forward, we will be putting our efforts into television commercials and other promotional activities, while also making effective use of events and updates, in order to further expand the ranks of consumers playing this title.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Next let’s briefly touch on the NES and Super NES Classic Editions.
Combined global sales of the NES Classic Edition and the Super NES Classic Edition have now surpassed 10 million units. The Super NES Classic Edition, released last fall, and the NES Classic Edition, re-released in June of this year, both continue to sell as must-have products, and the fact that they are so affordable suggests that they will be in even greater demand during the holiday season.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Next, let’s consider the business outlook for the Nintendo 3DS family.
Nintendo 3DS is set apart from Nintendo Switch by its characteristics as a handheld game system that is lightweight, price-friendly, and highly portable. Affordability is the strong point that positions Nintendo 3DS in a niche clearly separate from Nintendo Switch. In the grand scheme of things, Nintendo 3DS has a prominent position as the product that can be served as the first contact between Nintendo and many of its consumers, and for this reason we will keep the business going.
During summer and fall, the hot-selling New Nintendo 2DS XL package was replaced in the US and European markets with sets featuring a pre-installed popular title. Because the suggested retail price was left unchanged in the US, the inclusion of one software title made the system feel like even more of a value to consumers. During the first half, we have launched specially designed versions of New Nintendo 2DS XL in Japan and elsewhere. We are continuing with efforts to expand sales.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
For Nintendo Labo, the new kind of play offered by Nintendo, there are now three different Toy-Con kits on offer: the Variety Kit and the Robot Kit, released in April, and the Vehicle Kit, released in September. We have seen how consumers who purchase Nintendo Labo appreciate the unique experiences it offers. Our expectation is that sales will accelerate because Nintendo Labo is a product that people can choose to buy as a gift for kids during the holiday season much like a regular toy.
In addition, we are preparing to introduce a succession of Nintendo titles including the ones shown here early next year and beyond, so expect continual enhancement of the Nintendo Switch software lineup.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be released in December.
This title will be the largest-ever game in the Smash Bros. series in every aspect, with an overwhelming amount of content, bringing together famous franchises’ characters in what will be the gaming industry’s one of the greatest collaboration titles. What sets the Smash Bros. series apart is that the basic rules and operations of the game are very simple, yet for those who want to pursue the game it offers a real depth of gameplay. The games are welcoming, since people who seldom play have a good chance of witnessing the appearance of certain elements they recognize, so we are working to spark the interest of a wide range of consumers, and not just fans of the Smash Bros. series.
The Smash Bros. series titles are special to our company because it is the place where the characters of Nintendo’s main titles come together. Many consumers discover Nintendo games they never knew about through the Smash Bros. series, so if Smash Bros. is spread wide across our consumer base, it will, by extension, also enhance the appeal of our overall IP.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
Global release of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, the latest installments of the Pokémon series, will take place in November. Their release finally brings the Pokémon series to Nintendo Switch.
This title is designed to be enjoyed by everyone. It is easy to play for people new to the Pokémon series, and endearing to fans of the Pokémon games. The title is based on Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, which was released for Game Boy in 1998, but this title offers completely new experiences. For example, the gameplay reflects Pokémon Go, and to catch a Pokémon the player swings the Joy-Con in an action similar to throwing a Poké Ball. In addition, by sharing the Joy-Con, two people can play at the same time in the same game, which is a first for the series.
The Poké Ball Plus will be released at the same time as a play accessory for this title. This Poké Ball Plus can be used instead of the Joy-Con as a game controller and “thrown,” so to speak, to capture Pokémon as a trainer. Further enhancing the realism of the experience, the player hears a sound and feels something in the palm of their hand when they succeed in capturing a Pokémon. In addition, players can take their favorite Pokémon from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! out into the world outside of the game and, as they walk around, it feels like the Pokémon is actually inside the Poké Ball Plus. More than half of all consumers who have pre-ordered this title chose the software bundled with Poké Ball Plus. Poké Ball Plus can also connect to Pokémon GO so that users can
continue playing without continuously looking at their smartphones.Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! can be linked with Pokémon Go so they can carry around the Pokémon captured with Pokémon Go. Also, the Pokémon Go application can get special items that can lead to the acquisition of new kinds of Pokémon. It would be wonderful if this fun kind of linkage piqued the interest of Pokémon Go users all around the world.
We have created various special bundles for those consumers looking to purchase a system together with software.
To coincide with the November release of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, we have prepared a package set that bundles the game with a Poké Ball Plus and a specially designed Nintendo Switch system.
This information comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa…
October 5 marked the global release of Super Mario Party, the latest installment in the Mario Party series.
Super Mario Party is the newest installment in the Mario Party series that is also a return to the series’ roots for reworked, less complicated game mechanics. It is a title packed with gameplay enjoyable by all, and that speaks to the “play anytime, anywhere, with anyone” concept of Nintendo Switch. It is a finished game with an appeal that is immediately apparent, and a game that everyone from regular gamers to newbies can enjoy playing together. We expect it to become an evergreen title for scenarios like parties where people come together.
