It has been a record breaking financial year for Nintendo. Thanks to the enduring appeal of their two most popular properties, their game franchise Super Mario and Legend of Zelda have electrified the market. This incredible strength in these two mainstays of Nintendo fan’s hearts has propelled the company to record levels of profit.
Nintendo’s success in the online gaming sector is primarily attributed to their iconic characters, Mario and Zelda. Mario’s first adventure was on the classic Nintendo Entertainment System back in the mid-80’s, and the Jumpman soon became the face of Nintendo, largely credited with bringing the console into public consciousness.
Zelda debuted on the NES in 1987 as the green-clad warrior battling Ganon’s forces on Hyrule. It is now considered one of the most influential role-playing games of all time.
Nintendo’s decision to bring both of these games into the digital age has resulted in a huge boost in sales and profits. They released the popular Super Mario Maker 2 last June, a construction and editing tool which allows gamers to create their own Mario-oriented levels. It sold in excess of 2.42 million copies within the first month of its launch. Similarly, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, secured an incredible 4.7 million sold in just three months. This reflects the continued public appetite for Nintendo’s iconic characters.
The surging popularity of Nintendo’s flagship Switch console has also driven the console maker’s profits. Nintendo’s Switch hardware sales jumped up more than 20%, and their software sales 19%, resulting in a 38% operating income boost.
The success of Nintendo’s Super Mario and Legend of Zelda have played a large role in this record profit year. With continual updates to their online digital library, and an ever growing lineup of games surrounding the two beloved characters, Nintendo’s popularity looks set to stay strong.
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