100°

Nintendo's 'Artificial Scarcity' Is A Myth, But Supply Is Now Its Greatest Challenge

Yesterday, there were a whole bunch of very angry Nintendo fans out there when Walmart told everyone that it was cancelling every single pre-order for the SNES Classic Edition, citing a “technical glitch” for pre-orders going live early.

Many were quick to blame Nintendo, thinking this was yet another dastardly plan to keep up the “artificial scarcity” of their hardware, but in reality it seems to be completely Walmart’s fault with Nintendo having nothing to do with it.

But this has been a narrative for a very, very long while now, that Nintendo is artificially limiting supply to create huge demand for their products, and create the illusion of success with constant sellouts.

shinoff21832468d ago

artificial scarcity, is for real with nintendo. I like nintendo but they dont get a pass for this. It happens with every console, CE items, you name it

porkChop2468d ago

They've sold millions of Switches at this point. How can you claim it's artificial scarcity? They would make more systems if they could, but companies like Apple are using the same chips. That's a very real problem.

freshslicepizza2468d ago

It is artificial because they are not making enough of them from the start. Microsoft and Sony produced more units in the same timeframe when they both launched. What this tells me is Nintendo is TERRIBLE at dsitribution. Even the WiiU version of Zelda was almost impossible to find.

Now lets look even deeper. They had LESS units available in North America last month than the months before. How can that possibly be?

wonderfulmonkeyman2468d ago

@ Moldy

Parts shortages. Look it up.
And before that point, it was simple underestimation of the Switch's popularity, due to overdoing it with the Wii U and wanting to hold back and be conservative in the off chance that the Switch was the same.

The demand for the Switch is absolutely real. There's no false pretenses there; anyone saying otherwise at this point is either not doing their research or is blind to the facts.

freshslicepizza2467d ago (Edited 2467d ago )

@wonderfulmonkeyman
"The demand for the Switch is absolutely real."

That part I am not arguing against.

"There's no false pretenses there; anyone saying otherwise at this point is either not doing their research or is blind to the facts."

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Nintendo is terrible at distribution, always have been.

Mangaman272467d ago

This has happened with every console, every nintendo product since the 90s. Nintendo isn't just bad at distribution. Check out the book console wars, they go into detail about how Nintendo tries to jip the consumer by making their products seem more valuable

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2467d ago
Gemmol2467d ago

dude, do you know sony and microsoft have their own factories, no matter what Nintendo do, they could never make as much system as sony or Microsoft. all sony have to do is hold back on cellphone line, or camera line, and use it to focus on more playstation

This is the reason all this scarcity keep coming up, people on here are believing dumb things that have no points, no documents to show it, they see other sony fans write it, but even those sony fans know sony have factories when Nintendo do not, but people on here still going with same story, do people like to look like they are crazy??? if you believe that then you believe in big foot

when you can actually look up facts, true statements that nintendo do not have any factories and just like Apple they pay others to build their stuff, and since Apple have more money those factories put their products firs priority over Nintendo

please people, use common sense, or look up stuff, do not repeat things because you see others say it, just because 10 people say something, do not make it true, especially when those 10 people bias against nintendo and do not work for them

jojo3192467d ago

My answer to this would be the same for ANY business. If you have customer demand, then figure out a way to meet it. Suppliers slow? Fire them and get new ones. No other suppliers? Make your own factory. Nintendo has had these issues forever. Why haven't they started manufacturing their own consoles by now??? IF it is real, then they should have fixed it years ago. I don't care if it's game consoles or friggin sewing machines. If you can't meet consumer demand over and over and over, you should get out of business. There is literally NO excuse for doing possible irreparable damage to your brand because your suppliers can't keep up. If as you say Sony and MS can do it, so can Nintendo. They are not cash-poor.

shinoff21832466d ago

I didnt repeat anyone, I said what I said out of proof. They have done this for sometime, now recent with the switch at first the nes classic and im sure the snes classic. artificial scarcity is what nintendo does. I dont wanna here any of that they dont own their own factory BS. Your just being blind.

RosweeSon2467d ago (Edited 2467d ago )

Yeah that Wii U was selling like no ones business, animal crossing Amiibo game was amazing sold out... Nowhere. Quality products being in demand 😱 Artificial demand is utter Bull, they make there chosen amount they sell them for a profit and they make there money. Could they make more could they sell more in certain cases clearly mini nes/SNES etc... who would have predicted after Wii u tho that within as many months Switch has sold 5 million consoles... so after Wii U selling 12-13 million over 4 years! They were gonna produce and manufacture 15-20 million switches? Yeah if they had lost the plot. What happened then if no one bought it after Wii U. Oh yeah go bankrupt, not to mention any new and more importantly popular or successful consoles sell out it's not for life it's temporary, scalpers being scalpers don't help but they other key thing you mention Collectors edition.... or also known as Limited! Edition limited is a very simple premise it's not commonly found in every shop wherever you go they are limited there are only a certain amount.
If you want common as muck limited edition grab a battlefield game, everyone who pre orders the game can get upgraded to the limited edition for free 🙌🏻 So what's happened to the standard edition then? The limited edition becomes the standard edition and the limited should really be looked into by trading standard of it was actually the normal version and not even remotely limited.
Limited edition you talking 500,000 at max for a console maybe... 100,000... 25,000, 10,000 you can even get 10-50 in a limited edition hell 1 of a kind Wu Tang album even. Point is if you make 9.6 billion gold Mario Amiibos mini SNES' etc hardly limited is it, at the end of the day they don't wanna sell you 20/30 VC games for a fraction of the price when it's a big part of their business on 3ds/Wii u and soon to be Switch oh yeah grab these minis consoles get all the games for half the price but will you buy them for Switch now as well? Making them limited runs just makes it a nice collectors piece for the retro fans who grew up with the systems and for new fans which again when you factor in original sales and newly acquired fans since launch 25/30 years ago there's bound to be many many more people wanting one than they would expect or ever get close to producing. They don't wanna make 50 million mini SNES' because they wouldn't be collectors items (or scalpers wet dream) they wouldn't be nailing Switch as they'd be fulfilling demand for an old retro console that they are really just releasing as a nice throw back for the fans.

Also back to the 15-20 million switchs for launch which would never have happened mainly due to the fact that bundles change options change prices generally come down once sales are smashing it parts come down etc and lets face it within another 12 months or so they'll be a Switch Xl or a "New" switch... bigger screens maybe better battery but oh yeah we've only got another 15-20 million switchs here to sell then we can start on the new system. No start with a few mill see how they go whilst continuing to manufacture them kee making them and then if all good stuff continues look into new bundles new set ups... 3ds, Xl, "new" 3ds and Xl 2ds, "new" 2ds Xl I've probably missed a few but that's in barely 5-6 years so a new revised switch is almost a certainly hence why they'd never make billions of a launch console and especially not off the back of Wii U. Having gone from Wii To Wii U which was a massive difference they've probably learned from getting burned on Wii U let's not make as many just yet see how they take off first. As long as the stock is in. Abundance by the holidays I don't see a problem, well not for Nintendo anyway.

Istolla2467d ago (Edited 2467d ago )

Don't worry, no one listens to these N4G supply experts. We all know they are dumb...

130°

PlayStation x PUMA Collection Releases April 2024

PlayStation x PUMA orders open April 18, 2024, Priced between $100 - $120!

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Barlos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Well, they're ugly aren't they?

phoenixwing1d 13h ago

Isn't any better or worse than any other shoe. Most of them are made in sweat shops no matter what logo they have

Ironmike1d 23h ago

Playstation should have went with nike

JackBNimble1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

I'd be embarrassed wearing any clothing with a console sponsored brand unless is was 12 years old.

Tody_ZA1d 19h ago

It ain't real until LeBron tells us what this shoe means to his career.

DefenderOfDoom21d 15h ago

Puma the unofficial sneakers for the NYC Breakers from the movie Beat Street (1984)

Abnor_Mal1d 6h ago

Those were the suede ones like the burgundy ones with the fat shoe laces. If you were really nice you had the checker board laces done up. A pair of Lee or Guess jeans a BVD nylon T-shirt. Rocking some Gazelles and Kangol cap preferable the beaver fur.

DefenderOfDoom215h ago

Roc Steady Crew wanted to wear Adidas but was told must wear Pumas because they are funding the movie . Awesome time to be a teenager in the early 80's
. Cool thing about being in your 50s is we were there for the beginning of HIP HOP and Video games.

290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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darthv724d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle3d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18813d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio3d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning773d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga3d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv723d ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19923d ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21833d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga3d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan3d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit3d ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus233d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv723d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier3d ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan2d ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2d ago
purple1014d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos4d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-3d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac4d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1014d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic3d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead3d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
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80°

Razer Kishi Ultra Review - Remote Play and Mobile Gaming Goes XL

PSLS writes: I have traveled across the country using the Razer Kishi Ultra in airports and hotels for both PlayStation Remote Play and mobile gaming in general, and I am thoroughly impressed.

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