Today, since this is not a Corporate Management Policy Briefing but a Financial Results Briefing after the year-end sales season, which is the biggest sales season of the year, please allow me to focus on the results of the sales season and update you on our most recent business status. While we will further our endeavors to increase our Nintendo 3DS and Wii U businesses in the next fiscal year, we intend to simultaneously challenge ourselves with new endeavors which include our plan to take advantage of smart devices, more aggressive use of Nintendo’s character IP and our new QOL improvement platform business. I am limited in what I can discuss about these efforts now, and I do not think I can successfully convey a big and comprehensive picture of our projects just by sharing with you some fragmented information on these multiple challenges. At the time when we hold the next Financial Results Briefing to discuss the annual results of the current fiscal year, I am hopeful that I will be able to share with you any relevant information, as well as about our financial forecasts, in as much detail as I can. Accordingly, please note that this information is not included in my presentation today.
Additional information has come out of Nintendo’s latest financial results briefing – sales data in particular. You can find the latest details below.
– Wii U’s software sales in Japan, US, Europe and Australia from April to September increased by over 200 percent from the same period last year
– Multiple factors for this
– One factor is the release of Mario Kart 8 in May and E3 2014
– The increase is especially high in Australia, which is due to their “Toy Catalog Season” in June-July, which lines up with Mario Kart 8’s launch
– Hardware sales also saw a spike in Australia due to the same reasons as the software sales rise
– New 3DS XL in U.S. and Europe sold over three times as much as the original 3DS XL did during its own launch period
– Once again, worldwide amiibo shipments were 5.7 million at the end of 2014
– Iwata says that normally sales of items such as amiibo would drop after the holiday seasons and so the release of new waves and deploying them with titles such as Mario Party 10 will hopefully keep the momentum following
– Nintendo does plan on making a finite number of certain amiibo and letting them sell out
– Though again, some figures will consider producing more stock of figures if there is demand from retailers and consumers
– At the end of third quarter, download sales of digital titles reached 21.1 billion yen
– This is a 17 percent increase from last year
– Nintendo has seen huge increases in digital sales
– There is a significant spike in the US in particular starting from fiscal year 2013
Koei Tecmo isn’t just bringing out the new Ganon Pack for Hyrule Warriors next week. Update 1.6.0 is also on the way, which brings about the following:
Max level raised
New mixture potions added
New medals added
Challenge mode expanded
Score recording function added
Challenge scenarios added
Bug that extends load times when entering battles fixed
This update and the new Ganon DLC are due out on February 26 in Japan.
We now have a full breakdown of the best-selling amiibo for each major region. Specific numbers haven’t been provided, though we do have rankings. Check out the full lineups in the graphic above.
The above graphic is for sales rankings. For sell-through rankings (percentage of stock sold), check out the lineups below.
North America
1. Marth
2. Villager
3. Wii Fit Trainer
4. Pit
5. Captain Falcon
6. Link
7. Fox
8. Rosetta & Luma
9. Samus
10. Yoshi
Following up on the amiibo stock situation, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has weighed in on figures that may be replenished in the future.
Iwata noted during Nintendo’s financial results briefing today that it’s difficult to continue shipping all types of amiibo due to limits on production lots, delivery dates, and retail space. However, he did say figures that have quickly become scarce and are needed to play in games will be considered for more production – assuming demand exists from consumers and retailers.
Marth is one amiibo that will be restocked later this year, though it’s unclear when additional product will be made available.
Ever since the first wave of amiibo released, some consumers have been forced to deal figures that have received little stock, creating the scalper situation. amiibo like Marth and Villager have generated large prices on auction sites such as eBay.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata commented on this ever-so-briefly today, noting that some amiibo have been selling out in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company did not expect figures to end up going for high prices on auction sites (thus resulting in scalpers).
If you weren’t already concerned about the stock situation surrounding amiibo, perhaps that will change soon. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed during today’s financial results briefing that the company is preparing one run limited edition amiibo. Additional information was not shared.
New Hyrule Warriors DLC is coming to Japan next week. On February 26, players will be able to purchase the Ganon Pack.
The DLC features a Boss Challenge mode, where you defeat the game’s big bosses for high scores. It’s possible to obtain costumes for Lana, Link, and Zelda as rewards.
Additionally, there’s a Ganon Play Mode. Players take on the role of Ganon and earn high scores by destroying the battlefield. There are costumes for Ganondorf and Cia as rewards.
Pricing for the DLC is set at 500 yen. It’s included free for those who bought the “all-in-one” pack.
