Nintendo sees profit drop 19% as countries gain control over pandemic

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. turn to (something) / tɜrn tə / (phrasal v.) – to start doing or using something to solve a problem
    Example:

    I turn to exercise whenever I feel stressed.


  2. stuck / stʌk / (adj.) – being in a situation that’s difficult to escape
    Example:

    We were stuck in school because it was raining heavily.


  3. fiscal year / ˈfɪs kəl yɪər / (n.) – a 12-month period in which an organization or business calculates how much it earned or spent
    Example:

    The company celebrated because it achieved its target sales for the fiscal year.


  4. behind / bɪˈhaɪnd / (prep.) – responsible for a certain situation
    Example:

    The police finally found out who was behind the crime.


  5. critical / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl / (adj.) – extremely serious or important
    Example:

    The interview is the most critical stage when applying for a job.


Article

Read the text below.

In the worst part of the pandemic, people loved Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co. They turned to its products for entertainment when they were stuck at home.


But now countries are beginning to control the coronavirus, and Nintendo’s profit dropped 19% in the first half of its fiscal year from the previous year.


The Kyoto-based company on Nov. 4 reported a ¥171.8 billion profit for the April-September period, down from ¥213 billion for the same period the previous year.


Nintendo is behind the Super Mario and Pokemon games. It was among the global companies that received a boost from the pandemic by providing at-home entertainment.


The year-end holidays are critical for Nintendo’s sales. So far, Nintendo has sold nearly 93 million Switch machines worldwide, including the Switch Lite version. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Nintendo’s profit dropped 19% in the first half of its fiscal year from the previous year. Do you think it will take a long time for Nintendo’s sales to recover? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The year-end holidays are critical for Nintendo’s sales. Do you think Nintendo should introduce new products to the public to increase sales? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Nintendo was one of the global companies that received a boost from the pandemic, but as countries started gaining control over the pandemic, its profit dropped by 19%. What other businesses do you think will experience a similar profit drop (ex. streaming services, delivery services)? Why? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, which was a better year for businesses, 2020 or 2021? Why? Discuss.