While May brought us plenty of financial reports from gaming's biggest companies, a notable absentee was The Pokémon Company; as a private business its disclosure requirements are limited. Thankfully Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games Inc. and a notable analyst in the industry, has shared some details that were included in a Japanese government filing.
It was a record year for the company (no mean feat considering its successful history), with the following numbers given (fiscal year ending 28th February):
- Sales: 204 billion yen / US$1.6 billion (up 70.4% from last fiscal)
- Operating profit: 59 billion yen / US$460 million (up 115%)
- Net profit: 41 billion yen / US$320 million (up 123%)
They're numbers that will likely be hard to repeat in the next set of results, simply due to the stacked line-up of games that benefitted the company last year. Below are the big-hitters that fell in the financial year, with the latest official sales figures from Nintendo:
- New Pokémon Snap - 2.4 million
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus - 12.64 million
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - 14.65 million
It's worth noting that Nintendo's figures cover a different period compared to The Pokémon Company's fiscal year (March 31st instead of 28th February), but the numbers nevertheless give an indication of the year's strengths.
Accounting for the dual release, that was five major retail SKUs on Switch; we should also bear in mind that titles like Pokémon Unite will also make notable contributions to the company's profits, along with all of the licenses, shows and merchandise that are a big part of Pokémon culture.
The game line-up isn't as stacked for this financial year, but we will have a dual release / new generation when Pokémon Scarlet and Violet arrive towards the end of 2022.
[source serkantoto.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 87
Surely all this massive increase in revenue they'll re-invest into the next Pokémon game and make it a huge AAA game..... Right?
Oh, no it's going to be indie quality and look a gen old like the others.
@moodycat Arceus was a step in the right direction though. But they should put more effort into the graphics.
And Pokémon Snap wasn't low effort (though not developed by Game Freak).
Well, I think I will try Nexomon games to make a comparison with Pokemon games.
Might be I found something better from Nexomon games.
I’m begging the Pokémon Company to port the original Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and Fire Red/ Leave Green to Nintendo Switch. I missed out on playing these games in the GBA era.
Seeing BD/SP outsell Legends: Arceus stings. And I say this as somebody who bought both versions of those shameful remakes and saw them both to completion.
@Don : I’d love a physical release with all of those games on a cart. They can throw in local wireless multiplayer and Pokémon HOME compatibility to further sweeten the deal. Hell, they can also throw in any other spin-offs and GameCube releases to make it the ultimate Generation III compendium. But historically, TPCi and Nintendo have never been particularly generous in that regard.
I still find it funny that BDSP are the best selling Pokémon remakes, and PLA are the worst seeking main series games (discounting enhanced editions).
It’s fun to have an unpopular opinion be validated every once in a while.
Of course we all know most of tPCI’s money comes from Go.
Some people getting a bonus in the pay packet this year.
@Silly_G
I would love a physical release of the all the older Pokémon titles too but knowing Nintendo they will most likely re-release each title for $10 digital like they did for Gen 1 and 2 on virtual console.
@Screen Yeah it's really fun that people rather buy the 1 to 1 remake than the actual innovative game /s
If there was ever any doubt that them cutting corners wasn't rewarding. Here you go.
Oh well. I'll always have the good ol' gen 1 to 5 if I want to play quality pokémon again.
I wouldn't have bought arceus if the reviews haven't been so missleading... the game was pretty crappy and for some reason reviews said its a 9/10 some even said 10/10... its like the sonic cycle people like me need a long time to learn it
@Silly_G As someone who loves BDSP, I understand your pain.
Also, bad time to ask I'm sure, but would you be willing to trade back and forth some version exclusive Legendaries from Shining Pearl? I need Palkia, Lugia and the three Birds in order to get the Shiny Charm. I can discuss it further with you in the BDSP thread if you'd like!
Does this include the Cards? Loads of my friends kids are all obsessed with Pokemon cards again, it's like jumping back 30 years.
I'd say GameFreak/Pokemon Company has gotten lazy and uninspired to the point that they are pumping out easy cash grabs but we did just receive the most original & best Pokemon game in Legends Arceus since the Wii/DS era (Pokemon Colosseum, Mystery Dungeon). Hopefully Scarlet & Violet does not follow the 2 steps forward 2 steps back the previous generations have been doing.
@mariomaster96
You must have misunderstood I said Pokemon Legends Arceus, the safest, easiest pokemon game since X/Y.
Some of you sound so miserable.
Just a reminder that BD/SP only sold more than Legends Arceus - and not even 20% more, and this difference can still decrease - because of the holidays timing and probably the fact that it's accounting for both versions.
Good on them. Here's to 25 more years.
@BrazillianCara see you get it
@themightyant yes that's included under "merchindice"
(also pokemon co came out in 96 -98 in the west - so that isn't actually 30 years)
At least Pokemon Snap was ok.
Something not even made by Game Freak.
I heard good things about Arceus.
But f**k the Diamond and Pearl remakes.
@durrdevil You know indie quality really varies from developer to developer, from Shovel Knight and A Hat in Time to Mighty No.9, so it's not a good way to describe something, especially since it slanders Chicory.
May I suggest the term, "shovelware quality"?
Also let's all remember, prior to 2016, pokemon co.'s net profits were actually really bad. Despite their high revinue, mostly from merchindice, they saw verry little return on invetstment before GO. Contrary to popular belief, GF isn't a tripple-A studeo, in fact, they have acess to less resources than some indie studios, number of sales notwithstanding.
Absolutely atrocious.
Dilly-Mick wrote:
YAY! i'm younger than I thought.
The remakes were the worst I've seen in a while. Less so because the games were horrendous to play through, but just because they can do so much better than that and just didn't. When your remakes have less content than the definitive version on the DS, there's literally zero reason to buy them. If it wasn't pokémon, things would probably look different.
That aside, I am hopeful for once. Legends Arceus and Snap were some of the best pokémon experiences I've had in recent years with how middling all the other games were before them, so I hope scarlet and violet keep it going, even when these baby steps towards better games are embarrassing for a company like this.
I look at Pokemon Company and Monolith Soft side by side and cry.
The former puts no effort in and sell 10s of millions and the other puts in ALL the effort and sell somewhere between 1 and 2 million.
It's just....gross...and sad.
If only adults with kids would stop buying low effort Pokémon for their children.
@Anti-Matter tbh? I didn't even know it was a known game; I thought it was some throwaway title I got for a buck or two. And it felt like it. Well, I'd pay five to ten for the experience, but that's about it. Just felt like it took those mobile "omg just like Pokemon!" games, and made their level/evolve system more similar to those. Wouldn't be at all against a different approach, but everything about it felt...."phoned in w/ a +5 bonus".
They're making the money they need, and their games seem to be improving like the fans wanted, and yet it's still the same old shtick around here. The more money and positive reception they get, the more incentive they have to keep on improving. That's what we want, right?
Pokémon legends is great, but it has several flaws. That said it deserves to sell way more money than those ***** remakes
@Redax Come on, the recent games weren't THAT bad.
@durrdevil I wouldn't put indie games down like that. At least indie games try to be artistic with their budget. Indie games are fantastic!
I am sure there will be celebrating all around the house that pikachu built.
@moodycat bingo... They can get away with doing small incremental steps to the franchise, and one game will have bad graphics and the next one will be slightly improved, so on and so forth. Not complaining, just the way it is.
@mr-duster 100% agree. Expectingmore from gamefreak and being satisfied with the current experience are not mutually exclusive.
@moodycat And kind of the opposite is true as well. New Pokémon Snap was the most oacked, lovingly made, high effort Pokémon game in many years... Yet it sold much less than the others. I can understand why Arceus sold so well, but why the minimum effort, barely-more-than-port gen 4 remakes?
Damn and Pokémon games doesn’t even need Hollywood movie AAA game budget with enough realism that you can see finest details on the skin.
Guess people just like good gameplay at end of day and graphics is 2nd fiddle. Even the “bad” BDSP remake did amazing
@Arawn93 good gameplay is relative in recent Pokémon games. I remember BDSP being “repeteadly press A to win”.
I particularly remember it not being fun at all as it was the easiest game I remember playing this gen.
EXP SHARE really breaks Pokémon games.
There was even a point where I just left a turbo controller on and I would go eat something and still win everytime.
Is that good gameplay?
I started a second playthrough of Legends Arceus recently but had to stop playing it. The Computer just randomly kept on getting 3 turns in a row. No priority moves were used plus I'm more than 20 levels higher now with maximum effort values (all lv 10) so something is definitely wrong. Great game but I have zero patience when it comes to a game's A.I being cheap.
Everytime there's an Article about Pokèmon somebody is complaining about the EXP Share that doesn't break the game btw it just speeds up an otherwise slow boring process and tbh these complaints about the same thing are starting to grate.
Nintendohate is at it again. The Pokémon games on the Switch are BY FAR the best Pokémon games ever made. And that is clearly shown by the sales the Switch games get. I've played every single Pokémon game, from Red/Blue/Yellow to Arceus. And the Switch ones are clearly the best. And except for a few Playstation fanboys everyone loves these games.
At least my ignore list is making new friends.
@Silly_G Have to agree BDSP were very disappointing and this is coming from a guy who never complains about Pokèmon games.
Great sales for Arceus in such a short period of time. Can't wait for more info on Scarlet/Violet this Summer.
Unite is the only one of those that interested me since Arceus isn't pokemon to me and no reason to play remakes. Snap looked cool, but not $60 cool.
But then again there's nothing in Unite to actually PAY for since the cosmetics are all ugly and you get more than enough gold and whatnot being f2p to unlock whatever you want.
@sanderev Can I join the list? Blind fanboyism is disgusting.
@YoshiF2 Why bother commenting on a Pokèmon Article if you don't find the games fun? and tbh that applies to everybody else too. I'm now convinced that people like yourself come to these Articles just to annoy people like me.
Seems divided opinion on BDSP here lol. I thought New Pokemon Snap was good and lived up to the original. I need to get to Arceus at some point. I thought BDSP were fine, not great, but decent enough to keep me playing.
Legends Arceus was really good I found.
For a company that's been mucking in mediocrity for such a long time now I wasn't expecting them to be able to deliver such a quality product at this day and age, though even with that my expectations for the new "main" Pokemon game isn't very high.
@moodycat exactly that's why I don't buy Pokémon games because they're too expensive for what they are & they never go on sale lol
@HotGoomba
But the peoples looked really cute and adorable in Chibi form from Pokemon BDSP.
@RubyCarbuncle
1) because I've been playing Pokemon since the GB days and I enjoyed previous games until they went downhill with low effort, shorter development times.
2) because I can express whatever I want, this is a comment section.
3) because I'm an objective person who doesn't eat anything "just because its Pokemon"
4) because I can see the flaws of things and express them so they can be fixed in the future
5) Didn't you post "Have to agree BDSP were very disappointing and this is coming from a guy who never complains about Pokèmon games." ??? So... you agree with me then? I'm confused.
6) EXP SHARE is not an excuse ... you can easily keep Exp Share if you find it "time efficient" AND raise the difficulty (or an option to toggle it on/off). As I said EXP Share is not an excuse to design your game in a way that even a turbo controller can play 70% of the game for you.
7) There's always room for improvement in games, not a single one is perfect. Want better games? Let the developers know what doesn't work.
8) You don't see me complaining about Arceus, as I haven't played that one yet, so my opinion just applies with BDSP and SW/SH.
@Dizavid
Be careful.
Sometimes the indie developers can make better games than the bonafide developers like Game Freaks.
@RubyCarbuncle the exp. share is a valid complaint but I do agree it isn't necesary to bring up every single time. It's beginingto feel exessive
@moodycat this sewage pipeline is where the party's at, except the scene outside in front of the doors where the bouncers are at is really where you want to be dancing.
@YoshiF2 anyone who has to validate their opinion by claiming to be objective clearly isn't. I understand you aren't a fan of the newer games. That doesn't mean the people who still enjoy them are wrong. The exp-share isn't objectively bad, some people really like it; and you cannot objectively prove how much (or how little) effort went into the games.
@YoshiF2 I've been playing since Red and Blue myself and I own all Pokèmon games in existence too and I don't see how an item that speeds up a slow monotonous task is the same as breaking the game, break implies it can't be played. As a 44 year old I no longer have the time to be sitting down wasting my time doing such a time consuming thing so honestly I welcome the EXP Share and I seem to recall people complaining about grinding before and now that EXP Share is here people are still complaining so it seems no matter what they do people are never satisfied. Maybe play something else and take a break from Pokèmon if you don't find them fun? just a suggestion.
@Dilly-Mick I don't need to validate my opinion with anybody and have no need for it.
About exp-share .... Then add the ability to toggle on or off. It's clear that many fans don't like it. Or raise the difficulty. As easy as that.
And yes, you can, in a way, prove how their work flow has not been up to their development times. You can compare the release dates between games, workforce, etc.
If they are having this staggering financial results... why aren't they getting more workforce to better develop their games?
Why is it that GF has only 167 employees, while other studios like Monolith Soft has 257?
With low effort I mean as a studio, not their employees, (Im sure they did what they could) .... but you can't even compare game design, creativity, topograhpic and environment design, graphics, etc with a Xenoblade game in the same platform.
So its a valid complain when you can see both games side-by-side and wonder... what is happening with GF as a studio?
I guess an option to switch the EXP Share off needs to be considered so it will please both sides but to imply it breaks the game is just silly.
It's a shame that BD/SP sold so well. SMH.
@RubyCarbuncle because my complaint, at the end of the day, is the difficulty... not the exp-share per se. EXP-Share is the cause of it... but I can agree that as a 35 year old, I like speeding up the process and I HATE grinding... so I can agree with you there. But I don't want to end grinding at the cost of difficulty and taking out the strategy and fun of the game just to "press A to win". That's what I mean.
There's many options:
There's many options for fans and I don't even cant understand why, a company as big as GF, cant do something as simple as that.
What I mean about that "it breaks the game" ... is that it makes the game play by itself. You're not playing a game. You're WATCHING a game. Just like I said, I could leave a turbo controller on and the game wins every time.... (battles at the end make 60-70% of the game... the other is exploration) Is that the definition of a game? At least not for me
@YoshiF2 I don't fully understand what you're getting at there tbh. What do you mean play itself? Pokèmon was always easy and you selected a move with the A button, that's it. Either way I'm actually too tired to get into a debate now, you can respond if you like but I have to be up for work in the morning so I'll respond then assuming you reply.
I'm proud that I've bought exactly 0 Pokemon games on switch but also sad cause I'd gladly buy a good Pokemon game on switch. If there were any
@Judal27 I honestly found Arceus a great game. I have bad eyes so graphics don't really bother me, but i found the game play loop to be the best fun ive had in any pokemon game. Defo worth checking out if you have not already seen much of it.
Kids are the primary audience, kids don't care about character models, quality of life improvements, or graphical fidelity. Get over it and play something else if these are deal breakers. Pokemon won't grow up with you and this has been a buggy low effort money grubbing series right out of the gate. I love it, but I also know what it is and what it will never be.
Not surprised at the first comment. Anger over Pokemon success is an cottage industry in these comments sections even though the franchise is the biggest it has ever been, with its two most ambitious entries released/releasing this year.
Anyways...
Huh? I count 4 retail SKUs:
1) New Pokemon Snap
2) Brilliant Diamond
3) Shining Pearl
4) Legends Arceus
Is there a 5th Pokemon game or SKU that I'm missing???
Awesome! Now for Nintendo Switch to Outsell the gameboy/gameboy color THIS YEAR and release Gameboy/Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance Games Via Nintendo Switch Online ASAP, That Would be Incredible!
@Bailey5000 I looked forward to that one but I dunno. The game play loop itself looks very repetitive. And I'd rather not buy what looks like a prototype game. If they're gonna use what they made in legends Arceus, and build and improve upon it. Then I'd probably be better off waiting for that game instead. And I'm hoping this upcoming gen finally churns out that game
@YoshiF2 all the mainline Pokémon games were easy since Blue/Red. Exp share was QoL to cut down on monotonous grinding when your collecting/raising all the Pokémon on your playthrough since that is all that is left after you beat E4 if you don’t care about PvP.
That is the nostalgia bias in you if you honestly thought the early Pokémon games were Dark Souls which is laughably since you can solo Pokémon all the games if you want
It’s “good gameplay” relative for what is expected of the series. Did you seriously use “press one button” as an argument when pressing one button is typically what you do in turn based menu RPGs right?
They're stroking their Persians really good right now.
@Redax You mean disappointing games, bad games are Balan Wonderworld or Babylon's Fall, these are far from bad. Just either lazy or disappointing but are still fun to play.
@Zimon The Pokemon Company doesn't make games though, they sell merchandise, do marketing, promote products, make movies, tv shows, partner with mobile companies, among other Pokemon related stuff. Only Game Freak, Namco, and Nintendo handles the games and share the profits. In a way the Pokemon Company is like Toei whereas Monolith Soft is like Saber Interactive, one is a parent company, the other is just a dev company. Remember Nintendo only owns 32% of the Pokemon IP and that basically covers mostly the gaming stuff, everything else all goes to the Pokemon Company.
They certainly have themselves set up for success in the future with the upcoming newest entry in Pokemon. The future (at least financially) is bright for them. Doesn't bug me too much since I am not really their targeted demographic.
The popularity of Pokémon has always been far out of proportion to the technical sophistication of its games. Expecting a handheld only developer to put out something comparable to a modern console game within a timeframe dictated by The Pokémon Company's multimedia schedule was unrealistic. It's clear Game Freak wanted to do something different for the first mainline Pokémon title on a console but weren't allowed to (see NL's article on that: https://bit.ly/3t5mEeQ).
That's why I am glad we got Legends: Arceus and that it did well. Its existence is so out of line with what we've grown to expect from Game Freak's past releases.
Now when is the next update to Legends Arceus? I honestly love the game and I hope it will last a while longer, besides they named the big update 'Daybreak' so I doubt the Pokémon company would give something a subtitle without planning more. That being said regardless of anyone else's opinion Legends Arceus is on my personal list of top ten 2022 released games so far.
Whats staggering is the framerate of these games.
Not surprising that BD/SP outsold Pokémon Legends: Arceus. BD/SP had the benefit of releasing before the holiday season. All those kids that wanted a pokemon game Christmas got BD/SP. Legends release right after the end of the holidays, so didn't get sale boost from the holidays.
I am ok with Pokemon for now but the BD/SP showed a very ugly sign that I hope they do not do again.
They released UNFINISHED product.
And the worst part is that people bought it so many times which proves my point that even a turd on the street with the Pokemon logo on it will be bought by millions.
@Screen It's because families with 2 kids would buy a version each/the cheaper all in one, whereas with the singular game they more often than not will buy one between them.
@Zuljaras BD/SP was a solid 8/10 in most places. It was fine, albeit with the difficulty spike at the end but that's pretty reminisce of older Pokemon games when you reach the E4. People bought it because it was a great game for kids and a perfectly fine version to play.
Awesome sales result and an amazing amount of great content for the Switch, pretty sure there are millions of happy customers out there.
Some will not be happy of course, the core have very high standards, play games from a variety of platforms for more hours than most, and are notoriously hard to please. Don't mind them complaining or their issues, but surely this can't be doing them any good on every related Pokemon article, as apart from venting their anger there is no other advantage, as they say GameFreak will continue to make the games they want, simply move on and do not buy the games, as the developer is not even listening.
@YoshiF2,
Comparing Xanoblade and Pokemon is pointless, both very different games appealing to different demographics, the more cartoon visuals suit Pokemon and the majority of it's fans.
Could the Pokemon look better?, without a doubt, but game breaking and horrible as some are suggesting?, no.
@Silly_G
I mean it hasn't really, it's going to be due to the date windows of it as to what has been sold.
Note that BD/SP are two separate games, Legends is just one and has managed an astronomical feat.
@Fizza : I wouldn't mind... once Nintendo offers another 7 day free trial.
@Silly_G Smart move honestly.
@westman98 UNITE
@Serpenterror pokemon company is the company that manages the entire franchise not just merch. Also GameFreak and Nintendo own majority shares in Pokémon co.
@YoshiF2 counterpoint: https://www.nintendolife.com/features/soapbox-can-we-please-retire-the-phrase-lazy-devs-already
@Koda1000
I think the recent Pokemon games on Switch were good enough for me.
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