March was a big month for Nintendo with the launch of its long-awaited island life simulator Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It must have been borrowing from the bank of Tom Nook, as it spent an estimated total of $14.6 million in North America over the 30 days. According to iSpot.tv, this was $3 million more than what it spent in February and made it the only gaming brand within this region to spend over $1 million during this period.
All up, it ran 20 ads more than 3,000 times and managed to generate more than 793 million television ad impressions. Its biggest ad spot with a budget of $2.6 million went to the "Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Your Personal Island Paradise" commercial. Take a look below:
Bethesda Softworks was the runner-up, with an estimated spend of $866,251 on two spots airing 425 times and resulting in 116.8 million ad impressions. Its biggest one was the "Official Launch Trailer" for Doom Eternal (which arrived the same day as Animal Crossing). In third place was Xbox, with an estimated spend of $640,961, and another ad for Doom Eternal in partnership with Bethesda.
Despite most of the US economy shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the gaming industry increased its advertising during the month of March to $17.3 million. This was an extra $5.3 million more than the previous month's spend, and it makes a lot of sense with the amount of people currently indoors.
[source venturebeat.com]
Comments (19)
Well, I guess it must have payed off.
Good. I like AC. I love AC. I want to be AC. ACDC.
I have never even seen any Switch commercials, guess I am not watching their target channels. Can't say that I am a fan of that ad though, I think an Animal Crossing ad could have been a lot better.
I agree with JayJ. The ad was okay I guess - I've seen a lot worse - but it felt like a Wii-era advert, and not in a good way. It also seemed to be targeting kids - which is fine - but the game honestly one that could appeal to anyone of any age, and Nintendo has been very careful in recent years to avoid the perception of being "kiddie". Still, not bad - and their advertising campaign has already very clearly paid dividends.
@Quarth
Not sure if you intended to make a pun or not, but considering it's Tom Nook here, good one.
“Despite most of the US economy shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic,“
Thanks for souring the mood
My kids have been watching a bit more TV lately and switch adverts are on all the time.
I wish I got adverts more tailored to me like AC ones. Don't watch much TV so mainly ads on streaming about breast milk replacements. No matter how thirsty I am I will not be buying any.
@JR150 Didn't think of that. 😂
@Enigk wtf are you watching that those are the commercials your seeing? i cant even remember the last time i saw a commercial like that on any streaming service lol oh btw its NEVER
Did you know that Tom Nook was inspired by Apu from The Simpsons?
@Chris77 what channels are they running on?
@JayJ I wonder if any ads are targeting other groups. A lot of older gamers I know, including myself, are totally into AC
What kind of consulting fee did Mr. Nook demand? I’m sure he was persistent on Bells being his choice currency.
@Almighty-Koz Seinfeld on All4 in the UK. Also adverts for pizza but the milk one really sticks in my head as it really doesn't apply.
@JayJ there is another ad besides that one that shows a mom playing it on her Lite and her daughter comes home. It’s not as cute, and it just the gameplay basically. It’s the one Ive seen. I think it plays on Oxygen (or HLN), and during This is Us a lot.
Edit: this one https://youtu.be/N4fltJMp1f4
@Mr_Zurkon Cartoon Network I think. Whatever channel Teen Titans Go is on. Sure a few other channels like Nickelodeon or Disney XD. I think sometimes one add break can contain three or four switch adverts.
@RPGamer im calm man, i was wondering what the hell he was watching as in surprised that that was the commercial not as in pissed or anything like that...
You're telling me they spent more money on Doom Eternal than Animal Crossing New Horizons?
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