Earlier this week we reported on the staggering jump in Nintendo share prices following the close of Monday's Tokyo trading, adding billions of dollars to Nintendo's value. That spike of well over 20% seemed like a logical point for momentum to slow down, but it's still climbing at an impressive rate.
Nintendo's share value closed at 22,840 Yen on 12th July on Tokyo, another 12.73% added to the value in a single day. As it stands Nintendo is now close to the peaks last seen in October 2015, with another sizeable bump likely to take it towards September 2015 levels. It's a welcome boost in this area for the company, having seen this share value hover at lower averages throughout 2016.
The key driver for this is, of course, Pokémon GO, which has gone viral seemingly in all respects by leading download charts, gaining a lot of mainstream media coverage and dominating social media. In comments reported by Venturebeat earlier in the week, App Annie communications boss Fabien Pierre-Nicolas made bold projections that the app is generating significant sums, though they are only estimates.
Even though Pokémon Go is only officially open in three countries, the game is generating well over $1 million of net revenue for Niantic Labs. I can easily envision a run-rate of over $1 billion per year with less server issues, a worldwide presence, and more social and player-vs.-player features.
The question is over longevity, of course, even though the app is yet to formally launch in Europe and other major territories. Newzoo founder and analyst Peter Warman said the following to Venturebeat.
The Pokémon brand ensures tens of millions of downloads regardless of the game concept. It is one of the biggest gaming and entertainment franchises on the planet.
What has been a surprise for Pokémon Go is the several millions of dollars it's managed to generate in the first few days alone. This is obviously great news for Nintendo as seen by its recent $10 billion market cap jump. My one worry with the game is its longevity as the freshness of the concept wears off and is copied by competitors.
The staying power of the Pokémon GO bubble will be interesting to see, especially in a modern world where what's hot on one day can be forgotten the next. Niantic, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo will be hoping that this particular app will avoid that fate.
[source bloomberg.com, via venturebeat.com]
Comments 69
Considered buying stocks in Nintendo last week. Doh. But hey, it's nice having a week's worth of good Nintendo news.
Secondary bonus, no stupid false rumors about NX being posted on Nintendo websites just to ensure new daily posts for clicks. At the moment, NX might as well not even exist. POkemon Go will allow for the wait for the reveal in October to be more bearable.
@XCWarrior October? No. The NX reveal is coming at the end of next month. Watch this space.
I'm upset I didn't buy stocks...I think I'm too late now.
Since everyone here keeps talking about SLIGEACH_EIRE, I would like to inform you of his strategy for getting to be a first-ish comment:
He types in a word, hits reply, thus ensuring his place in the comment section, and then edits the comment with the full response. I can't decide if it's a neat trick or an objectionable method.
Geeze and this is without global rollout. Making it rain! I do wonder if the gps/ar system can be in corporated into the main games. Like a new version of the safari zone or something.
30 minutes? (My screen says this article was 14 minutes ago, the previous 1 was 44 minutes, my math says 30 minutes) You guys couldn't wait a whole hour for the next Go post?
Despite what XCwarrior said I kind a miss NX news. Wait, there never was any actual NX news was there, just leaks, rumours and lies? March 2017 and Just Dance has been the only real news.
I'm going back to shopping on Amazon.
@TheHumbleFellow you are poking the bear, but it WAS funny.
I wonder how much of a boost in sales Sun and Moon will enjoy based on Pokemon Go's overwhelming success.
It might not be as big as some people think, but I'm sure it won't be negligible either.
@MasterWario Keep watching as I edit my post.
The horror.
I can't even imagine how hard Level 5 are developing the mobile Yo-kai AR game right now.
This is it then. This is the make-or-break situation for investors on Free-To-Play games. It's had viral success, but can the in-app purchases keep it profitable for the long term?
This will be interesting to watch... and play. This game is actually kinda fun.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE It takes all of two seconds to notice the "The" comment, refresh the page, and see an entirely finished comment.
@MasterWario So what? It's sad that you care so much.
The most popular game in the world right now is on a smart device. Wow!!!
I'm always happy to see Nintendo succeed, but I do worry about the effects this game's success might have on the company's long term plans.
As long as they keep funneling those yens into more robust home console experiences, and leaving novelty games like this one for mobile devices, all should be fine, I think.
@XCWarrior Bought some stocks for my older son few years back when he was born. Been up'n'down all the time. Still about a double worth now.
Ninty Stock is always a good buy when they are low. Always.
And by low I mean anything below 15-16.0 mark. Any time Ninty hits that mark I build up.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
My bet is early-mid September. Leading up to, during, or right after Tokyo Game Show. That would mimic the Wii remote reveal (though the name Wii wasn't revealed at the time).
@Yorumi The ironic thing is that, in my view at least, Pokemon Go is exactly what you're advocating then to not do: a game completely built on top of a gimmick.
I do agree with you that I hope to see less gimmicks on their consoles, but that's from my personal perspective as a gamer, which doesn't necessarily represents the trends of the market.
This was such a smart move for Nintendo because it gives a simplified version of Pokemon for the "blue ocean" population and leaves the full RPG experience for 3DS/future handhelds.
As to whether or not this is a fad that will wear off and pop, we gotta remember, this is Pokemon we're talking about. Not digimon, tamagachi, or any new franchise trying to establish itself. Pokemon has 20 years under its belt with nearly yearly main game releases and a number of spin-off games. This is a behemoth of a franchise that, if Pokemon Go ends up been a fad, it'll be a fad that will last for as long as they are casual mobile gamers.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Calm down or you will be forced to have a break from the site.
Great success story! I wonder how much of a cut Nintendo makes after Niantic & The Pokémon Company?
All in all I hope they go ALL OUT with the upcoming Animal Crossing & Fire Emblem games. As long as the games are good, most people out there don't necessarily mind paying for IAP's. Go for it yo!!
Let's hope NX will boost that even higher.
@Yorumi
Hmm, 'tis a pretty broad stroke your painting on "gimmicks", my friend. Are you trying to say that Nintendo's priority for introducing "gimmicks" was purely novelty then it was to enhance game play?
Well Niantic is getting more of the $$$, but Nintendo's stocks are soaring. It's a win win.
Are we building a wee bit of a straw house here?
Breath of the Wild: Yeah, I see all the positives that came from that game sticking.
Pokemon Go: I'm not entirely convinced all the positives that have happened because of this game in the very short term are going to stick.
That share climb looks great on the face of it, and hopefully it's all good, but I guess we'll see. . . .
@Undead_terror What about post #1 that's flaming and deliberately trying to provoke a response.(It was reported but obviously ignored) And the same with post #5. What was the point of their post? And finally, what exactly do I need to calm down over?
@MasterWario What I would like to know though is why?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I just fixed that, and stop with all the negativity/fighting/spamming zzz, and that goes for anyone, but you show it off the most, tis a warning.
@erv and don't promote this.
It's a bad month for Nintendo haters, too much good things hapening at same time and almost no ammo to hate. Can't wait for NX news.
Nintendo stocks don't pay dividends, not a good way to treat shareholders. Owners should get income from owning the business.
@Don If you don't like the terms, don't buy the shares. No-one is forcing you.
@Undead_terror I don't pick fights, haven't the slightest interest in it. But I will defend myself.
As for spamming, I've an idea what's coming down the line. Could be wrong but I said elsewhere what would happen to Wii U before it launched and it's come to pass. It could be seen as great that this is doing well but like the Wii's success, long term it damaged the company. This success of PG could see a shift in how Nintendo makes games going forward.
Sure they've the NX but they're also diversifying and have other irons in the fire because they realise console and handheld gaming isn't the behemoth it once was, certainly not for them. That's why they're getting into mobile gaming, creating theme parks, talking about movies, QOL, selling more merchandise outside of gaming, etc. If NX fails, they've other fallbacks. I don't think there'll be an NX2. If it fails, I think that will be them done in the console hardware market.
I don't like this mobile gaming because it's not a patch on console gaming and I think this may be the start of the end of Nintendo as we know them currently. And all this promotion of PG, in its own small way is helping to create this future. I know you're only one site in the greater scheme of things. And people will say but the money generated from mobile gaming will be used to fund games on NX, short term sure but long term?
Nintendo are a business, they care about money. I fear for the future, not because I think Nintendo will go out of business, they won't, but they may be very different in 5 years time.
Been trying to tell people (haters) that Nintendo has other avenues of business practices. They been around since the mid/late 1800's. So, even "if" this so called NX doesn't happen to be appealing to most "NINTENDO WILL STILL BE HERE PROFITING."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nintendo
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Unfortunately things always change just learn to enjoy the experience as they come.. With a finance guy st the helm Nintendo's decision will be more share holder friendly going forward ... Nothing wrong with that IMO ...
I'm still going to be a customer and if the stock price holds I'll also be a shareholder going forward
@Yorumi Well, "waggle" in and of itself didn't enhance any game per se, but motion controls, when implemented the right way certainly did, there's no if's, and's or but's about it.
Wii Sports was a brilliant move, and so was its successor Sports Resort. Of course these games could easily have been done with button presses, but it wouldn't have been nearly as engaging and interactive as it was with motion controls.
And personally, I feel that the Balance Board/Wii Fit also brought something extra that can't be replicated by any other control scheme without losing that kind of interaction.
And in between all the shovelware there are lots more titles that are also putting it to good use, both first party and third party titles.
And the Wiimote/nunchuk combo brought the most accurate fps experience to date to consoles. A joypad didn't even come close and motion controls even gave the mouse/keyboard combo a run for its money, if not equal or better it in some titles...
But agreed on your "a game shouldn't be it's control scheme" point. Just saying there are more than enough examples of the so called gimmick actually used to good effect.
I bought Nintendo stock a month ago. 8)
Now just to figure out when to sell. No plans any time soon...
This is going to help Sun and Moon. Pokemon has been popular for the past two decades, it's as if investors forgot and just suddenly realized that it is still popular.
Still waiting on the game to release here in Canada.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
"That's why they're getting into mobile gaming, creating theme parks, talking about movies, QOL, selling more merchandise outside of gaming, etc. If NX fails, they've other fallbacks"
The hype is so crazy.
Even in my country. Just this morning i read about Pokemon Go FEVER from my newspaper.
@Stu13 yeah, I think Level 5 can really take a leaf out of Pokemon Go if it is to create a Yo-kai Watch smartphone game!! Imagine we can see n catch lazy/hungry Yo-kais when we look at our friend's head through our smartphone AR.. LOL
I hate to burst their bubble, but this bubble is absolutely going to burst. If for no other reason than the coming of winter! Not to mention a thousand other valid reasons.
@Kiyata the summer months definitely has helped Pokémon Go. They cannot be denied.
Apparently it's now the biggest game in US history.
http://gonintendo.com/stories/261294-pokemon-go-becomes-biggest-mobile-game-in-u-s-history
How are they generating profit from pokemon go? isn't it free?
When it's Bill O'Reilly's Tip of the Day you know it's big
@Yorumi I was purely talking about the Wii, not the Wii U. I was never debating that it has failed quite miserably, but I don't agree that Nintendo wants to shove the controls into everything, unless we are going to start a useless debate on the merits or detriments of Star Fox Zero's GamePad controls.
If anything, Nintendo has all but abandoned GamePad controls in later games, safe for a couple, like the aforementioned Star Fox Zero, and that policy of abandoning it has even been used on the new Zelda game, albeit with the excuse of wanting to have uniformity in gameplay between the Wii U and NX versions of that game.
And a small reminder: some of the titles I named in my previous comment are a personal opinion, so with all due respect: that's not debatable...
@Ryu_Niiyama yes, it can, 3ds can use AR but lacked location GPS services... the next handheld will Attempt to harmonize the mobile market...
@Kellanved its definitely noted that GO is the gateway into Pokémon, a whole new generation has flooded the pokemon scene.
@ricklongo AR isn't as much as a gimmick, its an "evolution" noted in many games study journals, from Silicon Valleys view, they saw AR "breaking out" who knew 3 weeks later when Pokémon GO launched, AR broke out, (like the Wii was for motion controls.)
the question is the impact AR will have on VR? I bet Sony wasn't expecting this.... Pokémon GO currently is no 1 world wide
@Yorumi Trauma center, Pikmin, some FPS. motion controls is tilt, and gyrosensors which is standard in most devices, pedometers and accelerometers are also included.
Dual Shock 4 was gyros and 3DS has gyros to aim like a game pad. DS4 also had the touch pad and the light bar used in PS camera.
PSVR uses motion controls as well.
@rennandovale salt options has soared in news of Pokémon GO absolutely dominating every app in usage.
this was to be expected.
@Yorumi they aren't, they will build a feature into the gameplay but will not make game based on the feature over what the appeal of the game is.
that's why Starfox 0 and Skyward sword failed....
options are good, but smart options are better.
@Sun_wukong I don't think Level 5 will have an easy time combating Pokémon GO, even Sony is having second thoughts, hell, Activision just saw its acquisition of King get devalued. AR in silicon valley are celebrating the AR app's success.
this is one for the history books.
@Yorumi I have seen enough, and Pokémon GO shows me that Nintendo is on the money with emerging tech, so much that AR is having an effect on VR... why? its easier to use (low barrier of entry.) has the brand to champion the cause, the PCI is definitely looking at Pokémon GO and making the strategy to funnel GO users into Pokebank then into Sun and Moon.
@Yorumi perhaps we need to look at AR like what Nintendo sees from AR... businesses as we speak are using the AR app to bolster their own economy... and this lends into a Macrocosm of users both existing in GO and Real Life basically it has become the second life of apps on mobile.
people are luring GO users using adverts and pokestops as well as lures.
this makes a solid a base of an economy circulating through GO.
@Yorumi Well, I understand what you're saying, but if by "they" you mean Nintendo, then I can't completely agree, since most first party titles were actually done quite well, motion controls included.
Of course there were some less perfect examples and some games where some issues arose (especially with motion plus) but overall, I'm pretty positive about how Nintendo themselves used the technology.
Third party shovelware with waggle? Completely agreed, but there are definitely also some third party examples that make great use of motion controls. (arguably even rivaling or beating Nintendo)
As for the AR discussion that you're also in:
This little gizmo is also making waves right now:
https://www.magicleap.com/#/home
All footage on the home page is captured through the actual device itself, so it shows what you would see when wearing it.
Now imagine playing Pokémon GO with that instead of just seeing them within the smaller frame of your smart phone...
@HSuzumiyaVI @Yorumi
Ok, please enlighten me because you both seem to have been bestowed with a wisdom that I have yet to acquire. Skyward Sword and Star Fox Zero failed to do what exactly?
@Yorumi Yup, they're AR glasses/spectacles. Contrary to Google Glass, they actually pushed on and did whatever they could to get this product to consumers, and now they are about to reach that point. (although fair to say that Google is in fact busy with v2 of their glasses)
And just to be certain: do you make a distinction between waggle and useful/meaningful motion controls? (like in Wii Sports, Sports Resort and such) Because if so, then let me add that I would definitely agree if a game just has a button press replaced with "waggle remote like crazy", but in my experience such "functionalities" are mostly found in third party shovelware.
Mind you, that is my opinion, so I can't help if we don't agree.
@Yorumi
"starfox sold like garbage" - Dude, where are you getting your data? Where are your sales figures? And if it's Vgchartz - don't even bother responding.
Let's debate with some facts shall we:
Star Fox Zero Currently the best selling game on Amazon (this was 1 week before it launched) https://mynintendonews.com/2016/04/19/star-fox-zero-is-currently-the-best-selling-game-on-amazon/
Star Fox makes NPD Group's Top 10 best sellers list (and it was released at the end of April; pretty impressive right): http://wiiudaily.com/2016/05/star-fox-zero-april-best-seller/
So please tell me where did it bomb exactly?
I'll address your distorted comments about SS later.
@Yorumi
Microsoft can't even sell a console in Japan and yet their home consoles are successful so... what's your point? Japan is more of mobile centric culture anyway so they're not always a great litmus test to use in gauging global success of home console games.
"The gamepad made so little sense they had to force you to use it through forced perspective, weird camera angles,"
Dude, there are 20 missions in the game and a third person perspective was fixed for only 4 boss fights. Two of these boss fights, was against the same boss. And when this happened you still had a first person perspective to use so.... why's this a bad thing?
"intentionally making the aiming on the main screen inaccurate."
Not true. No self respecting game publisher/developer would intentionally implement game control mechanics that would make the game more difficult to control for players. Your aiming reticule is two squares in 1st and 3rd person views. If you focus on the inner square (like every Star Fox before it), you should hit your target. If the target is very far from you, use 1st person view or more closer in third person and fire again. But if you can't hit the target in third person view after using my advice, you might just suck at the game. Did you ever get around to playing this game yet btw?
@Yorumi Oh, agreed on Skyward Sword: I didn't mention it because I thought it better to not list too many titles that either do or don't use motion controls in a good way. Optional would have been fine by me, even though I've had minimal problems with it myself, but I do know some people that had a lot of calibration issues.
I have no idea why some people experience more issues with that game than others, but I've seen it first hand, so the issues are certainly there.
And we agree on button press replaced by waggle = bad, so no need to mention that one again...
@Yorumi
"Pokemon Go implements a new idea, with newish technology, in a smart way that makes perfect sense and it takes over the world"
I'd attribute Pokemon Go's success to the massive market share of iPhone and Android phones and the popularity of the Pokemon brand. Nintendo's savy to combine their IP with the technological features of the hardware their developing for... is nothing new to them.
When "waggle" as you say was implemented in games like DKR, Super Mario Bros. Wii, Kirby: RTD, it was done simply because the Wii Remote didn't have enough buttons. But Metroid Prime Trilogy, Punch Out Wii, Skyward Sword, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves are solid examples of smart use of their console's existing technology.
Star Fox Zero is truly underrated and makes perfect use of the Gamepad to "enhance Star Fox's core gameplay". Unfortunately, not every player is evolved enough to see these kinds of benefits so it's gonna be a hit or miss sometimes.
@Yorumi it may happen, but I prefer full on AR over a RPG section, hell, if they implement trading and battling like the RPGS, people will be fine.
@Turbo857 both games failed to justify its new dynamic control scheme.
SFZ had issues with calibration
SS was outsold by Skyrim.
@HSuzumiyaVI
My apologies for the length of my comment.
"both games failed to justify its new dynamic control scheme."
Extremely vague line of reasoning ya got there my friend. Before I can properly address this, I'm curious to know what qualifies as "failed" and "justified" in your book (and while we're at it your version of "success" might be an interesting read too). But regardless, I'll dignify your comment with a response.
#1 As a business owner, if I make a product and enough people purchase and like it (regardless of how many may dislike it) to the extent that I generate a sizable profit... my product has indeed been justified.
#2 Fun fact: Mario 64 didn't nearly sell close to the original Super Mario Bros. (despite the fact it was released for the DS as well). So... did Mario 64 fail to justify the analog stick? Especially since, New Super Mario Bros. and NSMB Wii outsold Mario 64 as well. Should Nintendo just stop making 3D Marios?
#3. Now SS sold millions, was universally critically acclaimed and no doubt made Nintendo a profit. Salewise, maybe SS sold half of what Twilight Princess made. But that could be attributed to its controls for some as well as several factors outside of its controls (including SS lacking a cohesive overworld being a main complaint I agree with). For many gamers like me who properly adjusted to SS's motion controls, we find them superior (same thing with those that exclusively play Splatoon with gyro and MK8 with Wii Remote w/wheel). I realize there are gamers that hate moving controllers, but that shouldn't mean games shouldn't be designed without gyro features.
"SFZ had issues with calibration". So did Splatoon and to an extent virtually any game that uses gyro may need recalibration. Fortunately, most of these games include instant means to recalibrate your aiming. Pressing "Y" or choosing to have motion controls activate only when you fire lasers auto calibrates aiming when you stop firing. So... just because you're sometimes required to press a button to instantly auto-calibrate an aiming reticule doesn't mean that a control scheme designed around gyro shouldn't exist. Most of these players from this link didn't have such a hard time calibrating in SF0 http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/star-fox-zero/user-reviews. There more positive "customer" reviews on Amazon if you're interested.
"SS was outsold by Skyrim". Okay, and... big friggin' deal... By extension, Skyrim outsold every Zelda game ever created... So what's your point? Should Nintendo quit making Zeldas now? And why should Skyrim be considered the litmus test for Skyward Sword's success (Breath of the Wild would be a better comparison, wouldn't you think)? You want justification for SS's controls, check out http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/user-reviews = overwhelming majority in favor of SS's controls.
Bottom line: If a game capture's an audience (and makes a profit), and that audience finds the game's controls superior to past installments... the controls are justified imo.
@Turbo857 star fox 0 was poorly received by the core Nintendo fans, the wii saw an exodus of core fans leave for Xbox and PlayStation. SS lost to Skyrim but morrowind and Oblivion failed to outsell Zelda up to that point.
"justify" is used loosely but in terms of what I know it means widely received (which is at this moment differs from opinion to opinion.)
@HSuzumiyaVI
"star fox 0 was poorly received by the core Nintendo fans"
Ok, I'm a core Ninty fan that positively received this game and judging from user reviews on Metacritic and Amazon customer reviews for this game.... Im not alone. So, please enlighten me, who are the core Nintendo fans? Or even better... what is a core Nintendo fan?
"SS lost to Skyrim but morrowind and Oblivion failed to outsell Zelda up to that point."
#1. Not true. Oblivion sold better than Wind Waker and Twilight Princess if Oblivion counts as multiplatform title (which is should since it is).
#2. Please explain: Why should Skyrim's success be used to measure the success for SS (or any Zelda before Breath of the Wild)?
""justify" is used loosely but in terms of what I know it means widely received (which is at this moment differs from opinion to opinion.)"
I'm sorry, that's just not correct. Like every word in the English dictionary, "justify" has a defined meaning and it's a very simple one. It just means to give a good reason as to why something was done. There are many reasons to justify Zero's existence and its creator and many players who purchased the game can name several.
The only thing that differs at this moment from opinion to opinion is our standard for justification.
In your opinion "widely received" is your self imposed standard of justification. All you can say is the game doesn't justify a purchase for you. But don't attempt to speak for Nintendo by saying Zero isn't justified because just because gamers like you have a problem with it. Get over yourself and play something else.
@Turbo857 just so you know, I bought and enjoyed Star fox zero and I haven't played SS yet, I'm talking about Nintendo fans in general...
I hear ya, @HSuzumiyaVI. Problem is, we internet commenters need to be careful when it comes to throwing around statements based on personal opinions (as opposed to facts). Whenever articles published on this site discuss Star Fox Zero, they often use the term "divisive". Without actual definitive sales figures, it's not possible for either you or me to determine how "core" Nintendo fans received Zero. But we can't dispute that the game's controls have indeed been divisive (since that's a fact that can be easily proven). That's all I'm really trying to say. But good to hear you enjoyed the game.
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