Nintendo has released sales figures for 2014, showing a healthy market for Amiibos and an overall profit. However, that profit is mostly due to the weak Yen that is helping to boost overseas earnings. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo “halved its operating earnings forecast for this fiscal year to 20 billion yen ($169 million) and lowered its sales outlook by 7 percent.” The cuts are largely attributed to the relatively low sales of the Wii U, which saw a minimal boost from big games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The 3DS is also nearing the end of its life, with the New Nintendo 3DS line looking to revive the high sales it has seen in years past.
Iwata said Nintendo sold about 5.7 million of its new Amiibo figurines worldwide since late November
The big star of Nintendo’s financial forecast seems to be their new line of Amiibo figures. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed that they have sold around 5.7 million Amiibo figures worldwide. The figures only launched in November 2014, meaning they are selling well over a million a month so far, despite inventory issues in the US and other parts of the world. With Wave 3 about to come out and Wave 4 already announced, along with a Mario-centric line, these sales should only grow from here on.
All in all it is better new for Nintendo than in the past, with them actually turning a profit for the first time in a while. However, investors are quite down on the company. Many are calling for a new piece of hardware, some asking for new entries in both the home console and handheld lines. A Tokyo-based analyst named Hideki Yasuda was quoted as saying“The best they can hope for with the Wii U is keeping the present state of affairs. In the game business, momentum is key. Nintendo should be thinking about new hardware.”
Published: Jan 28, 2015 01:14 pm