180°

Nintendo to post unexpected loss as Wii successor falters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co Ltd, the world's leading gaming company by machines sold, said it will post an operating loss for a second straight year as the sales of its Wii U, successor to the 100-million selling Wii, faltered.

The company caught investors off guard by predicting a loss of $220 million in the year to March 31, reversing a profit forecast for the same amount, putting its new guidance well short of a consensus estimate of 12.1 billion yen ($133.48 million) profit from 19 analysts.

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finance.yahoo.com
BadboyCivic4094d ago

I thought they were sold out in record numbers over the holidays?

wishingW3L4094d ago

they were but because of low production due to it being new.

AsimLeonheart4094d ago

That is all just propoganda of Nintendo fanboys. THIS is the reality. Wii U isnt selling and Nintendo is suffering losses. Now everyone can finally see how Wii U has been performing in reality.

HebrewHammer4094d ago

I'm with Asim.

I want nothing more than for Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft to coesxist and succeed in this industry, but I think Nintendo's hardware business is way too far behind. If Nintendo focused eclusively on software and distributed their games on other platforms, they'd make a killing. Could you imagine Zelda for PlayStation, or Mario for Xbox?

Hot damn.

blackbeld4094d ago

Maybe so, but this year the WiiU got its momentum with awesome game releases and its still cheaper the PS4 and 360.

This year is just one month old so no worries.

R_aVe_N4094d ago

They were never sold out in my area the shelves were stuffed full of the Wii U. The shelves are still full and it is not selling well at all (In my area at least) I went to a local game store and they had 12 cases during the holiday's and they just sit there. Was the same at Wal-Mart was the same deal.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4094d ago
Xof4094d ago (Edited 4094d ago )

Seriously. Unexpected? Give me a break. Every gamer I know was/is hesitant about the Wii U... at best.

Hell, even my friends who love the Wii have been dumbfounded by the whole thing.

Of course, I thought much the same about the 3DS, and look how awesome that turned out.

EDIT: The debacle of the first 6 months notwithstanding, of course.

Thatguy-3104094d ago

It lost what saved it last gen which was the casual market to phones and tablets. It's a gamecube scenario again.

DigitalRaptor4094d ago (Edited 4094d ago )

This is spot on. There's no point in doom and gloom since Nintendo will be just fine, but do you see the same insane rush and hyperactive marketing of the Wii and its motion tech? Exactly.

For all its merits, people are simply not as excited for the Wii U because:

1) Those who bought a Wii due to the mainstream excitement and advertising are burned out on what it has provided, and you know the rumour that the Wii is the #1 console to collect dust? I don't think that's far from the truth. These people see the Wii U as an extension of that and as such aren't as interested, even with an innovative tablet controller.

2) It doesn't provide for the mass market what the Wii did.

user39158004094d ago

No they were never sold out, as a matter of fact they are everywere. 220 million lost till march? Whats next 400 miilion lost until august? Ugh, I wish Big N take the lost now early, stop making wiiu and start from scratch, make a unit capable to comfront PS4 AND 720 not the current gen. It suck cause I was hoping for a miracle, but Big N ate donkey kongs banana with the wii-u.

Zhipp4093d ago

Abandoning the Wii U now would cost Ninty substantially more than it would to stick with the Wii U for the next 5 years. They just need to hold out, and make the console more inviting to those who are still on the fence. They need bundles. They need limited editions. They need ADVERTISEMENTS.

Also, once the next gen starts, they should have the price advantage over Orbis/Durango. That should help, somewhat.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4093d ago
BLow4094d ago

To be fair, isn't this one of Nintendo's first consoles (or one in awhile) to be sold at a loss. At least that's what I thought and I may be wrong so jump down my throat because I'm just asking a simple question. If so, that may explain some of the losses they have encountered.

kma2k4094d ago

Yes you are correct sir selling them at a loss

http://www.ign.com/articles...

TongkatAli4094d ago

Nintendo isn't going anywhere, no worries. The 3DS is number one everywhere.

LOL_WUT4094d ago

The only reason why the 3DS is currently number one is because of the price cut it got early on. They practically saved it from being a huge failure now this comes up all I have to say is OUCH! ;)

n4f4094d ago

yeah what ever happen to the competition.

MegaLagann4094d ago

"The only reason why the 3DS is currently number one is because of the price cut it got early on"

Surely it couldn't be selling because it has GAMES!??! Nope, it's only selling because of the price cut, nothing else.

Donnieboi4093d ago (Edited 4093d ago )

What is 3ds worth when compared to Iphones and Android? I know it's a dedicated handheld, but it's sales are being absorbed by phones. So to an extent, Nintendo cant rely on the 3ds alone to support them forever.

Aside from backwards compatibility with Ds games, and some current/upcoming Shin Megami Tensiei And Monster Hunter games, I dont see any other appealing games coming out for 3ds.

DarkHeroZX4093d ago

Uuuh the 3DS just started making profit after the release of the 3DS XL. What's the point of selling a device if you lose over $25 bucks on everyone you sell? Remember the ps3 sony lost over $200 in the beginning and despite the ps3's success lost millions! Sure they can boast about selling far more 3ds' over the vita but atleast Sony isn't being hit as hard despite pathetic sales. Almost every Vita Sony sells is profit and now the ps3 is profit. Nintendo just got back on track with the 3DS XL and now they got themselves into another rut with the Wii U.

DA_SHREDDER4094d ago

Who cares?! This only means one thing. That sooner than later there will be a price cut!

MadMen4094d ago

See previous posts

WiiU will be a failure

in comparison to the Wii

MadMen4094d ago

And that has what to do with the statement?

Nothing, exactttly

Show all comments (56)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1012d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref2d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde2d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19722d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville2d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21831d 21h ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos1d 20h ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1d 20h ago
isarai2d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref2d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan2d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0071d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19722d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

2d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19722d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

2d ago
2d ago
Zeref2d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde2d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19722d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19722d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier2d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto2d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21831d 21h ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto1d 18h ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1d 18h ago
Hofstaderman2d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts2d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts1d 7h ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic1d 15h ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel9d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger888d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing8d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS7d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder7d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff21837d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.

80°

The Nintendo Partner Spotlight Sale Is The Perfect Excuse To Get These 6 Gems

Huzaifa from eXputer: "The Nintendo Partner Spotlight sale event has discounted a number of worthy titles on the Switch. Here are 6 of them you should check out."