Tag: Business - Page 2
Soapbox Nintendo, "THE Prime Asset" In Xbox's Content Quest? It's Only Natural
But it ain't happening
The FTC case examining Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, depending on your perspective, is either the gift that keeps on giving or an eye-scrapingly dull, never-ending saga. Still, you can't deny that it's turned up some tasty behind-the-scenes morsels to chew on, giving gamers a fascinating glimpse of the...
Random Xbox Marketing Wanted To "Avoid Calling Switch A Console"
Wish upon a Star(field)
In an attempt to ensure that Microsoft's Xbox is easily differentiated from the Switch, the company once attempted to make a shift in terminology when it comes to what constitutes a "console" — because that couldn't possibly lead to confusion, right? In a 2019 email from Xbox's head of marketing, Aaron Greenberg (and...
News Embracer Group Reportedly Looking To Sell Borderlands Dev Gearbox Entertainment
Update: More reports surface
Update: Bloomberg has corroborated Reuters' report from earlier today. Reporter Jason Schreier shared that Bloomberg has seen an email written by Gearbox's Chief Communications Officer, which notes that there are "many options under consideration". The letter reportedly says "The base case is that Gearbox remains a...
Poll Hasn't Nintendo Always Been An 'Entertainment' Company?
Let Mii entertain you
The times are a-changin' for Nintendo, it seems. Nobody would doubt that the company has been video game-focused for the past few decades, but with theme parks, movies, and mobile apps popping up all over the place, it seems that the Big-N is moving in a slightly different direction. This was echoed by Nintendo of America...
News Nintendo Is "Evolving" Into An Entertainment Company, According To Doug Bowser
"With gaming as a nucleus of the overall business model"
Nintendo has mentioned on a number of occasions in recent years how it wants to go beyond video games and the company's American president Doug Bowser has now reiterated this during an interview with the Washington Post. Bowser mentioned how Nintendo is currently "evolving into being an...
News Charles Martinet Will No Longer Be The Voice Of Mario
Update: Is not in Mario Wonder, now Mario Ambassador
Update: In a statement made to both IGN and Eurogamer, Nintendo has confirmed that Charles Martinet is not in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. That means both Mario and Luigi are voiced by a brand new voice actor in the upcoming platformer. Nintendo told both publications that "... while Charles is not...
News Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Has Reportedly Helped Boost Japan's GDP
No tears here
Preliminary figures released by the Japanese Cabinet Officer today report that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may well have helped boost Japan's GDP (gross domestic product), Japanese outlet Mainichi Shinbun reports. (via Forbes). Nintendo's highly-anticipated first-party title launched back in May 2023 and broke sales...
News Former PixelJunk Scrappers, Cursed To Golf Devs Open New Indie Studio In Kyoto, Japan
Denkiworks is already working on its first project
Former developers from Q-Games and Chuhai Labs have teamed up to open a brand new indie game studio in Kyoto, Japan. Denkiworks was founded by Liam Edwards, Jan de Graaf, and Taku Arioka. All three devs met while working on the mobile version of PixelJunk Scrappers at Q-Games in 2018. Edwards then...
News Monolith Soft Profits Almost Doubled In Fiscal Year Ending March 2023
A sparkin' good result
Monolith Soft had a cracking 2022 with the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, one of our favourite games of the year and a culmination of everything the developer has learned. And it shows in a recent report acquired by Gamebiz.jp (via Noisy Pixel), as the developer has almost doubled its profits in the fiscal year ending...
News Percentage Of Female Managers At Nintendo Hasn't Improved, Despite Pledges
Annual report also reveals gender pay gap at NCL
According to Nintendo's annual report published earlier this week, only 4.2% of company managers in Japan are women. This is a number that has remained unchanged since 2021, when the company formed its 'Nintendo Women and Allies' initiative, pledging to "promote women’s careers" (thanks, Axios). On...
News Embracer Group To Make Severe Cutbacks After Absurd Spending Spree
Jobs, studios, and games all on the line
Embracer Group has announced that it is entering a 'restructuring program' with a view to becoming a "leaner, stronger and a more focused, self-sufficient company". In other words, it's about to undertake some pretty substantial cost-cutting measures after spending the last six years or so focusing on...
News Sega Looks Set To Raise Its Game Prices Up To $70
"We would like to review the prices of titles"
Sega Sammy has suggested that it may join other major publishers in raising some of its game prices up to $70. In a recent Q&A session (thanks, VGC) with President / Group CEO Haruki Satomi and Senior Vice President / Group CFO Koichi Fukazawa, it's been confirmed that the company will be reviewing...
News Time Between Switch's Announcement And Launch Was A "Special Case", Says Nintendo
Could the gap be shorter for the next console?
The official translation of Nintendo's financial Q&A for the recently-released figures is now available to view online, in which the company's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, discusses the time between the Switch's announcement and its release, hinting that the same may not be applied to future...
News Capcom Reports Yet Another Record Year Of Game Sales
Sun-breaking records
Capcom has released its financial report for the fiscal year ended March 31st, 2023, and it's an impressive showing from the Japanese publisher. Following the launch of 35 new SKUs, including the likes of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and Resident Evil 4, the company has reported that it has sold a record-breaking 41.7 million...
News Xenoblade Developer Monolith Soft Raises Staff Salaries Across The Company
Future banked
Monolith Soft has revealed that it's increasing all staff salaries for all employees at the company. From April 2023, basic salaries have been increased "in line with rising prices", the developer has announced on its website. The raise affects everyone working at the company, including graduates, who will receive a 22% increase in...
News Nintendo Subsidiary Hiring Engineer For "Current And Next-Generation" Platforms
Here we go again...
Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD) is looking to hire a Game Tech Engineer to join the team. However, However, the listing has caught people's eye as the future employee will be targeting both "current and next-generation Nintendo platforms". (Thanks, GoNintendo!) The job seeks someone to fill an engineer and...
News FTC Reportedly Wants Info From Nintendo On Call Of Duty Deal (North America)
A seven hour testimony has been requested
The US Federal Trade Commission is attempting to get more information from Nintendo regarding the 10-year licensing deal it signed with Microsoft to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. In a report published by TweakTown (via
News Nintendo Wins Court Dispute Against Pirated Game Hosting Site
Dstorage can appeal
Nintendo has won a dispute with sharehosting website operator Dstorage which failed to remove pirated Nintendo games from its website 1fichier.com, GamesIndustry.biz reports. The Paris Court of Appeals has sided with Nintendo on the matter for a second time after previously delivering the same verdict in May 2021. Nintendo took...
News Nintendo Of Europe "Has Decided To Wind Down Operations" In Russia
Update: Will "maintain a minimal presence" in the country
Update [Fri 14th Apr, 2023 11:45 BST]: Nintendo of Europe has provided a statement to Eurogamer saying that following its suspension of the eShop and officially shipping products to Russia in 2022, it "has decided to wind down operations of its Russian subsidiary". Noting the current...
News Nintendo Wants Discord To Reveal Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Art Book Leaker
NoA files for DMCA subpoena
Nintendo of America has filed an application for a DMCA subpoena at a district court in California which, if granted, would order Discord to reveal the identity of the person who leaked The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's art book back in February. TorrentFreak reported earlier today that the company's attorneys...
News Devolver Digital Acquires 'Gato Roboto' And 'Gunbrella' Dev Doinksoft
"A historic moment"
Publisher Devolver Digital has announced that it has acquired Doinksoft, the developer behind Gato Roboto, the physical exclusive Demon Throttle, and the upcoming run 'n' gun title Gunbrella. Announced via Twitter, Devolver calls the acqusition "a historic moment" and included a rather amusing accompanying image that will look...
News Nintendo And Mobile Firm DeNA Launch Joint Venture Company
Update: Company now formally established
Update [Mon Apr 3rd 2023, 09:15 BST]: Nintendo has released a statement on its Japanese website to confirm that the joint venture company 'Nintendo Systems Co., Ltd' has now been formally established with DeNA. Loosely translated, the statement reads: "Today, April 3, 2023, "Nintendo Systems Co., Ltd.", a...
News Konami Files Trademark For Mysterious 'Project Zircon'
"What is your business here?"
Konami has filed a trademark for 'Project Zircon'. Spotted yesterday by Gematsu and filed on 7th March, we know absolutely nothing about what this means, but it's got some people thinking. As Gematsu mentions on Twitter, zircon has very few connections to the company in general, but there is one that'll be of interest...
News Bowser Defends $70 Zelda Pricing, Nintendo Still "Very Bullish" About Switch
"It’s exciting to see that demand is still there"
While the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom might just be the most highly-anticipated video game of all time, the announcement that the title would cost $70 on release opened up the conversation about how much we are all willing to pay for a game in 2023. Doug Bowser, the head of...
News The Pokémon Company Is Looking To Hire Someone With NFT Knowledge
Porygon-B
The Pokémon Company International opened up a new job listing for a Corporate Development Principal a few days ago, and it looks like the position requires the candidate to have a grasp of Web3, including blockchain. The listing was spotted on TPCi's Greenhouse page (via LinkedIn) where all of the company's job listings are posted, and...
News Looks Like Square Enix Is Still Planning To Release Multiple Blockchain Games
Caught in an NFTrance
Square Enix has today released its Outline of Financial Results Briefing, which was held on 3rd February 2023, and from the sounds of a comment from current CEO and president Yosuke Matsuda, blockchain is still very much in the company's future (via Wario64, Stephen Totilo). In response to the question about sustainable growth...
News Two Official Nintendo Stores Have Been Closed Down
It was fun while it lasted
We're used to hearing about the global growth and expansion of Nintendo, but its business operations in Southeast Asia have been cut back in recent times. According to the video game giant's website, both of its official stores in Thailand have been closed. The JD Central store only opened its doors in December 2021...
News Generation Esports Officially Partners With Nintendo For Middle School Esports Event
Smash Ultimate, Mario Kart, and Splatoon 3 are being added
Generation Esports and Nintendo have announced that they're officially partnering up in order to introduce a handful of Nintendo games into the Middle School Esports League Spring Major. Generation Esports is a "scholastic gaming" company that focuses on the impact of video games in schools...
News Saudi Arabia's PIF Is Reportedly Now Nintendo's Biggest Outside Investor
Update: Now 8.3%
Update [Fri 17th Feb, 2023 13:50 GMT]: Following stories earlier this week of further increases in the PIF's investment in Nintendo, Bloomberg now reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund now holds 8.3% of Nintendo, according to filings. This makes it the company's largest shareholder outside of Japan. According to...
News Nintendo's Investor Q&A Promises Switch Isn't Dead After Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
“new titles will continue to be proposed going forward”
Earlier this week we got a look at Nintendo's Q3 financial figures for FY 2023 and there were some big milestones crossed — Switch outselling the Game Boy, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe passing 50 million sales and much more besides. All this pointed towards a Q&A session
News Nintendo's Share Price Takes A Hit Following Latest Financial Report
Dropped by 7%
Nintendo's share price has dropped on the Tokyo Stock Exchange following yesterday's Q3 FY2023 Financial Report (via VGC). The company's price dropped by around 7% since yesterday's report, and at the time of writing, it currently sits at ¥5,226, which is down from ¥5,624. This drop doesn't come as a huge surprise due to the...
News Nintendo Says Switch Chip Shortages Are "Largely Resolved" As It Cuts Forecasts
"Shipments generally went according to plan"
As part of Nintendo's nine-month financial report for the 2022/23 fiscal year, the company has said that supply issues that have constrained production for several years now were "largely resolved" in the closing months of 2022. Commenting on Nintendo Switch sales in its explanatory materials, the...
Let the theories commence
Kit and Krysta, the former hosts of Nintendo Minute, left Nintendo at the start of 2022 after a combined 25 years at the company. This gave them a ton of insight into the secretive company that they're now more than happy to share on their YouTube channel and podcast, including speculation based on their experience —...
News "We Absolutely Apologize" For Pokémon Performance Problems, Says Nintendo Of Canada Manager
"We are working on improvements to these games"
Business interviews are often pretty dry, and a recent chat between Post Arcade — the Financial Post's gaming section — and Nintendo of Canada General Manager Susan Pennefather was no different. But there were some interesting gems hidden in all the biz-speak, so let's take a look! Pennefather...
News Factorio Is Getting A $5 Price Increase "To Account For Inflation"
The second price increase in 5 years
It's no secret that things are costing more these days — and games have been hit just as hard as groceries, rent, and medication, with base prices for new, AAA releases steadily climbing up to (and sometimes past) the $100 mark. But it seems like those price increases are also affecting older games, as the...
News Over A Third Of Devs Still Interested In Making Switch Games, According To GDC Survey
18% of devs are currently making a game for Switch
Ahead of the annual Games Developer Conference this March, GDC has released its 'State of the Game' survey results for 2023, and there are plenty of stats that might interest Switch owners. This annual survey, which you can get a copy of from GDC's website, gives us an insight into the current state...
News Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Raises Stake In Nintendo To 6%
Up from just over 5%
It has been announced that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, or PIF, has upped its previous stake in Nintendo from 5.01% to 6.07%. As reported by Reuters (thanks, GoNintendo), the sovereign wealth fund increased its previous ownership stake in the Kyoto company by 1.06%, as revealed today in a Japanese report filing. This...
News Ubisoft Share Price Tumbles After Dire Sales Report
Three more games cancelled
Ubisoft appears to be in a spot of financial trouble, according to its latest financial report on January 11th, 2023. In a three-page press release, the company admits to being "disappointed" in the sales of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023, despite "excellent ratings" and "an ambitious marketing plan"...
News 75% Of Public Comments On Microsoft's Acquisition Of Activision Were Positive
Microsoft recently announced 10-year deal with Nintendo
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently announced that over the course of a two-week window, it received a total of 2,100 public emails regarding Microsoft's planned acquisitiion of Activision Blizzard, of which around 75% were positive. The regulator laid out a high-level...
News The Pokémon Company Takes Crypto Company To Court Over NFT Game
Cease and desist
The Pokémon Company has taken an Australian crypto company to court over the unauthorised use of characters from the Pokémon franchise in an NFT game. As reported by Vooks, an Australian company called 'Pokémon Pty Ltd' (also known as Kotiota Studios) had set up a website advertising an upcoming NFT title called PokéWorld. In...
News Sega Of America Opens New Office In California
New office will house Sega and Atlus' publishing departments
Sega of America has announced that it has opened a new office in Irvine, California, with the intention to house Sega and its subsidiary Atlus' internal publishing departments in one space. The news comes via GamesIndustry, who states that one of the goals of the new location is to...
News The Nintendo Switch Was One Of The Top Black Friday Purchases This Year
Did you get a good deal?
The colossal holiday sale madness known as Black Friday or Cyber Week has just ended, with Cyber Monday wrapping up the weekend of deals. Adobe Analytics has assembled a bunch of graphs and stats for this year's shopping trends, and to no one's real surprise, the Nintendo Switch is way up there as one of the most...
News Games Market Expected To Decline 4.3% Globally This Year, According To Newzoo
"Our long-term outlook for the games market remains positive"
Games market research group Newzoo has published its latest report which forecasts a year-on-year decline of 4.3% for the global games market in 2022, following two years of "exceptional" growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the report (thanks, GamesIndustryBiz), the firm estimates...
News While Old Games Are Easily Delivered, Nintendo Is Focused On New Experiences, Says Miyamoto
Still no word on GBA games coming to Switch
Backwards compatibility is rapidly becoming easier for Nintendo than ever before. At least, that's what Shingeru Miyamoto implied at a recent Q&A following the company's latest financial report. And while the Switch continues to build up a growing library of NES, SNES and N64 titles (if you have the...
News Disco Elysium Creators Clash With Studio Owners Over Dismissal
Both parties present conflicting statements
In a significant escalation of the legal battle between Disco Elysium's ousted creators and the development studio ZA/UM, both parties have presented conflicting statements regarding the dismissal of Robert Kurvitz, Aleksander Rostov, and Helen Hindpere. In an online message posted by Kurvitz and Rostov,...
News Nintendo's Q1-2 Digital Sales Make Up Over 50% Of All Software Revenue
Thinking outside the boxed
We have been excited to see Nintendo's growth this morning as the company published its financial report for Q2 of the fiscal year ending March, 2023. One stat that has really stood out to us comes in the continued popularity of digital sales, with this mode of buying now accounting for 49.3% of all software sales in the...
News Nintendo To Merge Its European Subsidiaries Into One Big Organisation
Say hello to Nintendo of Europe SE
As part of its latest financial report, Nintendo has announced that it will be merging its European subsidiary companies, including Nintendo France S.A.R.L, Nintendo Benelux B.V, and Nintendo Ibérica, S.A, into one organisation under the title Nintendo of Europe SE. Currently, these subsidiaries, in addition to...
News Splatoon 3 Sold Almost 8 Million Units In September, 2022
Booyah!
Nintendo has today revealed its financial report detailing the company's growth in Q2 of the fiscal year ending March, 2023. As was to be expected, it was a strong period for Splatoon 3 with the latest shooter shifting a whopping 7.90 million units. This is an impressive number, yes, but it gets even more so when you consider the fact that...
News Konami's Earnings Report Reveals A Substantial Profit Drop In The First Half Of 2022
Bring on Silent Hill
Konami has revealed its earnings report for the first six months of the year and the results aren't pretty. Despite the release of some titles with which we have had a lot of fun - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection doing a lot of lifting on the 'some' there - the company reported a 34.4% drop in earnings...
News Sonic The Hedgehog's Lifetime Sales Speed Past 1.5 Billion Units
And he's not slowing down
It's been a pretty big year for Sonic the Hedgehog. From the commercial success of his second movie back in April to the impending release of the much-anticipated Sonic Frontiers in November and the new Sonic Prime Netflix series in December, it is getting pretty difficult to miss SEGA's speedy lil spike ball. According to...