Japanese game maker Nintendo reports zooming sales and profit on its hit Switch 2 machine

Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

  1. console / ˈkɒn soʊl / (n.) – a small electronic device that you connect to a TV or monitor to play video games
    Example:

    Some people prefer consoles to computers for playing video games at home.


  2. breakdown / ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn / (n.) – a list or report that shows the separate or different parts of something
    Example:

    The store manager asked for a breakdown of sales by product to know which items sell best.


  3. still going strong / stɪl ˈgoʊ ɪŋ strɔŋ / (idiom) – continuing to be successful even after a long time
    Example:

    The old bakery in our town is still going strong after 50 years of business.


  4. upcoming / ˈʌpˌkʌm ɪŋ / (adj.) – happening, appearing, or coming soon
    Example:

    The children are excited about the upcoming school holiday, which will last for two weeks.


  5. franchise / ˈfræn tʃaɪz / (n.) – a collection or series of related games, movies, or other media that share the same name, characters, or world and often appear repeatedly over time
    Example:

    The Pokémon franchise has video games, cartoons, toys, and more.


Article

Read the text below.

Japanese video-game maker Nintendo’s net profit jumped 85% in April-September from the year before, as its sales more than doubled following the launch of its hit Switch 2 console in June, the company said.


Nintendo, based in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, said its profit for the half-year totaled 198.9 billion yen, or $1.3 billion, up from 108.6 billion yen the year before. Sales for the first half of this fiscal year rose to nearly 1.1 trillion yen ($7.1 billion) from 523 billion yen in the same period of 2024.


Nintendo, which makes Super Mario and Pokémon games, did not provide a breakdown of quarterly data.


Nintendo’s video game sales were solid, although with no new movies, revenue from its content business slowed.


Nintendo raised its profit forecast for the full fiscal year through March 2026 to 350 billion yen ($2.3 billion). Previously, it had expected a 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion) profit. It also raised its forecast for Switch 2 machine sales to 19 million units from the earlier 15 million.


Nintendo says it had sold more than 10 million Switch 2s by the end of September. Popular Switch 2 game software includes “Mario Kart World” and “Donkey Kong Bananza.”


Sales of the older Nintendo Switch have fallen, but Switch game sales are still going strong because they can be played on Switch 2 machines.


Analysts expect Nintendo’s earnings to stay strong with the upcoming holiday season, when it tends to do well. They also expect key new games in the Pokémon and Kirby franchises.


Nintendo stocks, which have been rising relatively steadily over the past year, fell 0.8% on November 4.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Nintendo is expected to earn well during the holiday season. Why do you think companies like Nintendo often earn more money during holidays? Do you think video games are good holiday gifts? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Aside from video games, what other companies or industries usually do well during holidays in your country? Why do you think that is? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Nintendo is best known for its video games and is already successful in that industry, but it also makes movies based on its games and game characters. What do you think are the pros and cons of expanding into another industry? Discuss.
  • If you were a director at Nintendo, what other businesses would you like to expand to (ex. theme park, café)? Why? Discuss.