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Japanese gaming giant Nintendo has raised its annual forecasts after robust first-half sales of its beloved "Zelda" and "Mario" franchise games for the aging Switch console. The company, buoyed by a weaker yen, now anticipates a 3.0 percent decline in net profit to 420 billion yen ($2.8 billion) for the fiscal year ending in March, up from the previous estimate of 340 billion yen.
Operating profit is expected to remain relatively stable at around 500 billion yen, an increase from the earlier projection of 450 billion yen, with sales dipping by 1.4 percent, according to the revised forecasts.
Nintendo stated in a press release, "Each title released this fiscal year has sold well, with 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' boasting sales of 19.50 million units, and 'Pikmin 4' garnering sales of 2.61 million units."
The company also attributed the positive impact of the April release of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" on sales of Mario-related titles. This animated film, a collaboration between Universal, Nintendo, and Illumination studios, has contributed to a significant turnaround.
For the April-September period, Nintendo reported a 17.7 percent increase in net profit to 271.3 billion yen, with sales rising by 21.2 percent to 796.2 billion yen.
Despite the Switch's seven-year tenure, considered long by console standards, the "Mario movie" and the release of the "Mario Red" edition of the Switch console and "Super Mario Bros Wonder" game in October have bolstered its performance.
Nintendo plans to continue expanding its offerings to maintain player engagement and maximize hardware sales. President Shuntaro Furukawa hinted at the development of titles for the Switch beyond March 2025, reinforcing the company's commitment to iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda.
Zelda, featuring Princess Zelda and Link, has been a long-standing success, with the latest installment selling over 10 million copies in just three days. "Pikmin 4" and other releases contribute to Nintendo's overall performance, demonstrating the enduring appeal of its classic games.
