Nintendo annual revs hit $18.5 billion, profits up 8.5%

By Mark Walton, GameSpot UKPosted May 7, 2009 4:18 am PT

Mario maker banks $2.83 billion in net income, $6 billion operating profit; 26 million Wiis, 31 million DSs, 16 million Wii Fits sold during last fiscal year.

Despite the grim news coming from some in the gaming world, Nintendo hasn't been feeling the pinch like other companies. Aside from some stock volatility, the Wii maker has continued to post record sales and significant profits.

Today the Mario factory released its financial results for its fiscal year ended March 31, and the company reported sales of more than ¥1.83 trillion ($18.5 billion, £12.2 billion) and operating profits of ¥555 billion ($5.64 billion, £3.72 billion). After taxes and extraordinary expenses, Nintendo's net income for the year wound up at ¥279 billion ($2.83 billion, £1.87 billion), a rise of 8.5 percent on last year's figures, though falling slightly short of analyst expectations.

Nintendo also announced sales figures for its consoles, with 26 million Wii systems sold for the fiscal year, pushing lifetime sales beyond 50 million and reaching that milestone faster than any other console, according to the publisher.

The company's handheld also enjoyed incredible sales, with 31 million DS units sold, pushing lifetime sales past 100 million units and edging ever closer to the PlayStation 2's 136-million sales mark. Again, Nintendo touted the handheld as having achieved the milestone faster than any other game system in history. Software sales also rose for both the Wii and DS, with 197 million DS and 204 million Wii games sold.

As for specific games, Nintendo singled out sales of Pokemon Platinum (3.75 million) and Kirby Super Star Ultra (2.36 million), noting that those games didn't see release in Europe during the fiscal year. Bolstering the company's strategy of pursuing evergreen games were sales of the Brain Age series. Between the two DS installments, Brain Age sold 7.31 million copies during the year, pushing lifetime sales to 31.12 million.

The Wii also saw its share of sales success stories, none of which were bigger than Wii Fit. The Balance Board peripheral pack-in managed to sell 16.37 million for the year, bringing its lifetime total to 18.22 million worldwide. Slightly less popular was Mario Kart Wii, which sold 15.4 million copies packed in with the Wii Wheel peripheral. Nintendo also released sales for its two big holiday releases, Animal Crossing: City Folk (3.38 million) and Wii Music (2.65 million).

Nintendo also gave projected sales figures for the coming year, estimating that another 26 million Wiis and 30 million DSs will be sold. As for software, the publisher expects consumers to snap up 220 million Wii games and 180 million DS games.

244 Comments

  • rouguesquadron

    Posted May 14, 2009 8:49 am PT

    @ fps_d0minat0r

    You don't know what your talking about. Some of the greatest ever came out during the 16-bit era. Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, Zelda: LttP are great games. To go one step further it's still up to debate which of these two games is the greatest game ever (Zelda: OoT or FF 7.)

    If better specs truly made a better game then the new argument would be if Twilight Princess is better than FF 13 or not (I know FF 13 isn't out yet but you get my point.) Specs do not make a game, it doesn't matter if a game has the best graphics possible as long as the game has a good story the game will be good.

  • HAWKYMAN

    Posted May 13, 2009 3:11 am PT

    Rofl fanboys. Here we go. EDIT: Lol@format of this site. Also, guess which kinda fanboy I am.

    "its been the same running and rolling since he came to gaming in 1991.....thats almost when i was born LMFAO.
    so much for nintendo being creative lol.....still using 18 year old sonic and 28 year old mario.....and fanboys like you are proud of it."

    The whole reason Sonic games suck nowadays is BECAUSE they try to make it new and 'exciting'. Sonic is not supposed to be a direct competitor to todays advanced games, its a fast paced simple twitch game. The only direct comparison would be Mirrors Edge. Its not supposed to even be 3d... Same is true for Wii games in that theyre not supposed to be technically superior, if you cant understand that then maybe you shouldnt be skipping school. No More Heros sucked, btw, IMO. Just to make clear where Im coming from. I also have a blast playing Wii Sports. I also play games like Stalker, Crysis, Fallout3-Oblivion(PC), KOTOR, Halo, Res Evil(4), and Bejeweled and Minesweeper. To name very few. If your a 360/PS3 fanboy knocking on someone that likes Wii games... Your under 20 years old, and have no idea what gaming is all about. And FYI Oblivion on consoles is nothing compared to the PC version.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted May 12, 2009 12:02 pm PT

    i still prefer ps3, better games

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted May 12, 2009 12:01 pm PT

    familys buy the wii for the gameplay it offers, they also buy it because it keeps you healthy

  • FoxExecutive

    Posted May 11, 2009 10:43 am PT

    You guys remind me of this:

    "Water sucks, Gatorade is better."

  • Malco_Vincenzo

    Posted May 11, 2009 8:54 am PT

    @ fps_d0minat0r
    Pices does have a point when it comes to you. yeah you've brought up spec but other than that you've done nothing but call him a fanboy. try to be a bit civil when arguing man. you're just making yourself seem like a PS3 fanboy.

  • Pices

    Posted May 11, 2009 8:53 am PT

    @malco and fps

    *sigh* Look folks, I am done with this. I hate making arguments online especially about console wars. You could go on and say "Oh giving up? Wii fanboy" etc. Whatever reply from one of you gets posted, I'll simply ignore it.

    PS Nintendo did not make Sonic. Sega did

  • Malco_Vincenzo

    Posted May 11, 2009 8:15 am PT

    @ Pices
    "* How about you ask the Youtube guy about the 15 exclusive titles?"
    oh no, don't pass this on to someone else.
    why should i involve him in an arguement between me and you. this just further proves that you yourself can't name good 15 wii exclusives. you've already admitted to the PS3 having higher specs and really that's what we're trying to argue here. what makes a game better is specs. what makes a game more fun is opinion. there is a difference between good games and games you like more. for example I really liked No More Heros, in fact it is my favourite wii game. but i know that as a game Oblivion does a better job.

    "The Wii does not need oblivion, Assassins creed etc. You want those games , then buy the other systems. I bought the Wii for originality and unique gameplay."
    this isn't an original idea. fps_d0minat0r already brought up the PS EYE. i'll bring up the NES POWER GLOVE. it's the same idea. unique gameplay is a different story. Even on one of the wii's best games, No More Heros, you only did a few wii mote actions. the rest was pressing buttons. Same with mario galaxy. you only used the wii mote to spin and shoot stars. the most impressive wii-mote use comes from, Metroid 3, wii-sports, wii-fit, skate it, and the rayman mini game comps. i have another challenge. name 15 games that use the wii mote for more than just swinging, because to be honest that's the only motion that's been done somewhat right. and try and stick with this challenge man.

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted May 11, 2009 7:47 am PT

    @ Pices

    sonic failed on all systems......poor gameplay and last gen graphics.
    how would you expect sonic to be a hit anyway? its been the same running and rolling since he came to gaming in 1991.....thats almost when i was born LMFAO.
    so much for nintendo being creative lol.....still using 18 year old sonic and 28 year old mario.....and fanboys like you are proud of it.

    any facts???
    come on.....you got the whole internet, there must be atleast 1 fact in favour of the wii.

  • Pices

    Posted May 11, 2009 7:19 am PT

    @fps

    better technology = sonic 06?

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted May 11, 2009 7:10 am PT

    @ pices

    you didnt prove it.....becuase you cant.

    better technology = better games.

    if that was false, people would be happy with their PS1's.

    none of your comments have facts in them, i dont even know why you bother.

  • Pices

    Posted May 11, 2009 5:47 am PT

    @fps

    Judging from your comment you're saying that I'm a fanboy. This all started when some guy said that the Wii has no good games. You then came and said that the ps3 has better games because of the "quality". All I wanted to do was to prove to the guy that the Wii has great games and thats it.

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted May 11, 2009 5:26 am PT

    @ Pices

    ok.....atleast now i know you read the list.....

    tell me if you know any other wii fanboys who think its better then PS3 and ill sort them out too.

    so much for the guy on youtube.....he didnt even last 1 comment.

  • Pices

    Posted May 11, 2009 1:43 am PT

    @ fps_d0minat0r

    I said it once and I'll say it again. Every specs info you gave about PS3 is better than the wii like the processor etc. I find all consoles great. Each one is good in it's own ways. I don't play those crappy casual games like swinging around. The Wii is a next-gen system if you checked the Youtube guy. I play the hardcore ones.

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted May 11, 2009 1:34 am PT

    @ pices

    heres the best your youtube buddy could do.

    "You're missing the point. I never said the Wii was better. I was just saying that the Wii is a good system. And plus, I think the PS3 is the best. Didn't hear me say that in the video?"

    my quest for a fact in favour of the wii continues.......
    *epic music plays*

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted May 11, 2009 1:31 am PT

    @ Pices

    its not opiniated.....see that massive list i gave you before....

    have you even read it? Here it is again if you havent read it

    100% FACT:
    processor PS3 > wii (obvious)
    graphics PS3 > wii (obvious)
    number of online players PS3 > wii (32,40,60 and soon 256)
    dedicated servers PS3 > wii (obvious due to no. of players)
    average length of each game PS3 > wii (see format)
    content in each game PS3 > wii (obvious, see details)
    control options PS3 > wii (sixaxis, dualshock, mouse + keyboard, logitech G25 and almost anything with USB)
    storage capacity PS3 > wii (SATA HDD, dead cheap even if u get a 300GB one)
    format PS3 > wii (nothing stands up to 50GB blu-ray)
    connectivity PS3 = wii (both have wifi and bluetooth)
    online services PS3 > wii (nothing beats PS home or the frequent updates as you mentioned)
    Quality of exclusives PS3 > wii (see most other things here)
    number of exclusives wii > PS3 (does anyone actually buy 1000's of games? NO, therefore i will not consider it an advantage)
    marketing wii > PS3 (obvious, compare sales with specs)
    characters PS3 > wii (i cant believe they still use 28 year old mario as their most used character)
    web browser PS3 > wii (obvious)
    image gallery PS3 > wii (very cool in PS3)
    oh....i forgot...resolution PS3 > wii (obvisouly 1080p pwns)

    got any objections????
    PS3 is better as far as facts go.

    like you said if you prefer swinging a remote at a tv with last gen level games then its your "opinion" lol.

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted May 11, 2009 1:26 am PT

    @ Pices

    you could have just said
    "yes i know all the facts go in favour of PS3 but i like wii because i like to swing a remote around at the tv"

    and btw i never said wii doesnt have exclusives.
    i only state facts and i said wii has MORE exclusives.
    however the quality of them is low compared to PS3 games.

    im not saying wii games are rubbish, im saying PS3 games are better designed leading to more gameplay.

    i dont see whats so creative about wii games as you mentioned.
    dont forget motion sensing was bought into household gaming by the PS2 with its eye toy which "senses motion"

    but of course PS3 is the only console with both motion sensing and a joypad in one......good balance of both.....ahhh... with dualshock 3 now as well.

  • Pices

    Posted May 10, 2009 11:27 pm PT

    * I never said that multiplatforms are better on the Wii. The majority of them are better on ps3/360 but SOME are on the Wii (Sonic Unleashed, Force Unleashed)

    * Well, ratings aside. I find the games better but you don't. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

    * The Wii does not need oblivion, Assassins creed etc. You want those games , then buy the other systems. I bought the Wii for originality and unique gameplay.

    * There are a lot of good games on the Wii, just because they don't appeal to you or you don't find them good, that does not mean that they are bad.

    * How about you ask the Youtube guy about the 15 exclusive titles? My job here is done and I am done with arguing

  • Malco_Vincenzo

    Posted May 10, 2009 7:15 pm PT

    @ Pices
    yeah you never said the wii is better, but you tried to say that all multiplatform games get higher ratings and then go back and say we're giving opinianated statements. as I said before ratings ARE the OPINIONS of people who get paid to give their opinions.you're giving opinionated statements as well. you may think that multiplatform are better on the wii but not everyone thinks so. not everyone goes ratings crazy either. ratings arent official world renown, so you using them to back up a point really goes against your "opinionated statements" arguement. on to point 2. i'm sorry but fps_d0minat0r has a point when he says that no wii games compares to a PS3 or 360 game. no wii game has gotten close to Oblivion's, MGS4's, Uncharted's, Halo's, Soul Calibur 4's, Lost Planet's, GTA4's, OR Assassin's Creed's quality. I don't even think you can say that was an opinionated statement. if you wanna go buy your ratings formula Gamespot gave the wii version a lower rating than the other consoles, COD 3 also got lower scores on the wii, so did Madden 08 & 09 , Manhunt 2, Pikmin, Scarface, The Godfather, and well i think that's enough to get my point across. *ahem* i'm not gona lie the only reason that i'm responding is because you make it so easy. at least I never called you a fanboy. and at least your youtube buddy can stick with one arguement. I watched some of his videos. he doesn't go around saying "your statement is opinionated" when proven with a point he can't argue.
    "Only clever devs develop for PS3? Ya...nice philosophy.' it is. where's the wii's oblivion?i owned a wii at one point. i sold it within 9 months. that's how tired I was of waiting for good wii games. there was 4 at the time. I owned all of them. sold them all. the even the good wii games have major shortcomings. like bieng able to beat no more heros in 4 days. or Super Mario Galaxy being easier and shorter than Super Mario 64. the point is that the "opinion" card shouldn't be played when it doesn't apply. there are good wii games but back to MY ORIGINAL ARGUEMENT, which you seemed to have veered off of, that list of wii games WAS pretty weak and FULL of ports. i still haven't had anyone name 15 good wii exclusive games.

  • Payback7

    Posted May 10, 2009 4:26 pm PT

    Dang - can't all you fan boys just be happy for Nintendo. I'm a Nintendo fanboy, but at least I have the guts to congratulate other systems/consoles when they do well. All the systems are great in their own ways. Each system appeals to different people in different ways - accept that and enjoy your own console - GEEZ!

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