Wed, Jan 30, 2013 | 13:36 GMT
Nintendo slashes Wii U & 3DS sales forecast: profits up, shares down
Nintendo has reduced its sales forecast for the year ending March 31st 2013, following less-than-expected sales of both its Wii U and 3DS consoles across the current financial year. Despite the cut, the company posted a nine-month profit and has increased its net income projection for the full year as a result.
In a report sent to VG247 by Nintendo, the company has posted net income of ¥14.5 billion for the nine-month period ending December 31st, and as such has raised its full-year net income projection from ¥6 billion to ¥43.2 billion. The company posted an operating loss of ¥5.85 billion for the period, which is a significant improvement over its ¥16.4 billion operating loss for the same period last year.
GI.Biz has added that Nintendo now expects to sell 4 million Wii U consoles by the end of March 2013, cutting its projection of 5.5 million made back in October. Up to and including December 31st, the Japanese company had shifted 3.3 million Wii U consoles, with 3.06 million of those consoles sold before the end of 2012.
The 3DS is in a similar situation, as Nintendo now predicts it will sell 15 million units, rather than the previously suggested 17.5 million. The Nintendo DS projection has also dipped from 2.5 million to 2.3 million consoles.
Software sales seem to be a big contributing factor in Nintendo’s net income, thanks to a total of 11.69 million worldwide game sales on Wii U alone. However, Nintendo cut its Wii U software projection from 24 million to 16 million, as well as software goals for other formats, equating to a 17.3% dip in total game and hardware projections.
New Super Mario Bros U and Nintendo Land were the Wii U’s biggest hitters, having sold 2.01 million and 2.33 million units respectively.
Finally, the Wii is still out-performing its successor, with 3.53 million hardware sales and 45.08 million software sales.
What do you make of the figures. Let us know below.
27 comments
#1
FabioPal
30/01/13, 8:57 am
That’s what happens when you are “stuck in the past”.
#2
jorooo
30/01/13, 8:59 am
Mario kart 7 really sold 39.56? Are there even so many 3ds sold?
Impressive figure overall and they will continue to grow, Mario games have legs for years.
#3
Dragon246
30/01/13, 9:21 am
Congrats to them for rebounding so fast.
#4
gameon
30/01/13, 9:21 am
No way those sales numbers can be right. Vgchartz has much lower figures. Or do these numbers include unsold items at the retailers? But even still, those numbers on Mario Kart and Mario 3D land are impossible.
#5
DrDamn
30/01/13, 9:29 am
@2
~30m 3DS sold so something is amiss there. On interesting point on WiiU sales the attach rate is reasonable. Nearly 4, which is higher than the 3DS. Maybe helped along a bit by the packing in of Nintendoland with the majority.
#6
Dave Cook
30/01/13, 9:34 am
@4 these are worldwide figures. VGchartz isn’t worldwide – to my knowledge – please correct me if I’m wrong though.
#7
DrDamn
30/01/13, 9:48 am
@6
VGChartz does claim to be worldwide but should never be used as a source of facts, however …
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/30/nintendo-q3-earnings-show-3-06-million-wii-u-consoles-sold-sale/
Is where I got the ~30m 3DS sold. Sure it’s not Mario Kart Wii on 40m? Still a bit high.
#8
Fin
30/01/13, 9:58 am
in b4 poly saying the wii u is awesome and is really cool and he can’t wait for loads of games
@7
Yer, never use VGChartz as a source for anything.
#9
gameon
30/01/13, 10:03 am
@6
Like the doctor says, VGChartz says it has worldwide numbers. However, it does not include downloads, but I doubt that they make that much of a difference.
The totals sales of consoles on VGChartz are on par with other sources as far as the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 concerns. But the number of Wii U consoles sold according to VGChartz is much lower than the 3.3 million mentioned in this article, namely 2.5 million. So I would go with the figures on VGChartz.
#10
Dave Cook
30/01/13, 10:06 am
@9 It could be that our source has them wrong. I’ll remove the numbers. Thanks again guys
#11
manamana
30/01/13, 10:07 am
In april 2012 they sold the 3DS at a loss, in october they started to make profit. Thats after slashing the price. See that Sony?
#12
Dave Cook
30/01/13, 10:10 am
@11 +1
#13
Psychotext
30/01/13, 10:30 am
As always, these figures are the number of consoles sold to retailers, not to customers. Retailers could obviously have hundreds of thousands of the things on shelves (think of how many retailers there are in the world and multiply it out).
Also, VGC pull numbers out of their arses. This is not news to anyone.
#14
mistermogul
30/01/13, 11:51 am
@10 – I think you’re using the wrong sauce!
#15
Dragon246
30/01/13, 1:21 pm
@Dave
Something is wrong with those net income figures and software figures are less than expected, contrary to what is mentioned.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-30-nintendo-cuts-wii-u-sales-forecast-by-1-5-million-says-console-having-a-negative-impact-on-profits
#16
The_Red
30/01/13, 1:23 pm
I still think the naming is a major problem here. Both 3DS and Wii U sound like alternative versions of existing system while in reality they are Wii 2 and DS2. I know those are boring names but what about Super Wii or Ultra DS or something?
Also, hopefully this means Wii U price cut. I don’t care about the system but goddamit I HAVE to have Bayonetta 2 and Wind Waker HD.
#17
Dave Cook
30/01/13, 1:24 pm
@15 Nintendo sent us these direct mate. But I’ll have a look. Perhaps they’ve amended them.
#18
gameon
30/01/13, 1:25 pm
@13
I agree that VGChartz is not all that reliable, but do you know a better source for global sale figures?
#19
Dragon246
30/01/13, 1:29 pm
@Dave,
Its funny how ninty sent this press release to media and yet there are discrepancies in the reports. It cant happen for hard facts like numbers can it?
Don’t take it as criticism mate, just pointing out
@16,
No. Price cut should wait till announcement of next-gen consoles imo.
#20
Dave Cook
30/01/13, 1:37 pm
@19 that and numbers, financials aren’t my strong suit. They’re needlessly complex.
Amended now. No criticism taken btw
#21
OlderGamer
30/01/13, 2:27 pm
Nintendo is DOOMED!!
Oh wait…they made a profit…nvm.
#22
ManuOtaku
30/01/13, 2:32 pm
OG and also wait for when the the ban in china is lifted, nintendo will have a new revenue, as also sony will for sure, that will help both overcome the yen situation, i think it will be a good time for both japanese companies.
#23
Psychotext
30/01/13, 2:38 pm
@18: The only reliable global sales figures we get are those in Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo’s financial reports.
Unless you happen to be a GFK subscriber.
As for VGC numbers not being “all that reliable”… outside of their Japanese numbers (which are freely available from Media Create) they’re just flat out wrong (but within the realms of researched guesswork). If you would like someone to make up figures for you though I’m sure some of the commenters here would happily do so at no charge.
I happen to know for sure that the Wii U sold more than 50 at least in Portugal in January. We’ll use that as a starting place.
#24
OlderGamer
30/01/13, 2:41 pm
I agree manu, no doubt selling games to China could positivly impact both Sony and Nintendo. It will be interesting to see what happens.
#25
Psychotext
30/01/13, 2:42 pm
Japanese companies aren’t exactly popular in China of late…
http://www.cnn.co.uk/2012/09/18/world/asia/china-japan-islands-dispute/index.html
#26
OlderGamer
30/01/13, 2:44 pm
I don’t think it will impact the sales on the street tho PT. Stuff like that could be something that keeps the gov from allowing them to import. But what we will prolly see is counter fit consoles aplenty. Prolly gov sponsered ones too.
#27
Psychotext
30/01/13, 2:51 pm
I’m referring specifically to consumer boycotts of Japanese products, not the politics behind it. There’s plenty of information out there (and in the article I posted).