Nintendo has just disclosed its most remarkable Q1 profit in history, largely driven by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. With sales amounting to 461.34 billion yen ($3.2 billion), the company achieved a profit of 185.44 billion yen ($1.3 billion), significantly surpassing its earlier Q1 record of 144.7 billion yen from 2020, as illustrated in its most recent earnings statement.
The commercial performance of these two franchises is indeed exceptional. Globally, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been viewed by 168.10 million people, generating $1.349 billion for the company up until July 26th. This marks a new high for a movie adapted from a video game, and it’s also the second highest-grossing animated film.
In parallel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, released in May, has sold 18.51 million copies, whereas Mario Kart 8 Deluxe managed to sell 1.67 million units in the previous quarter alone. According to Nintendo, about half of the first-party software sold this fiscal year was solely accounted for by the Zelda title.
Surprisingly, Switch sales have escalated compared to the same period last year, reaching 3.91 million units in the last quarter (a bump from 3.43 million units the year prior), with the pricier OLED model representing 2.83 million of those. This uptick may be largely attributed to Zelda’s success, as consumers likely wanted a new or upgraded console to play the game. Nintendo has also been consistent in expressing its objective of making the Switch a multi-unit presence in every household, a target which seems to be gradually materializing. Despite the company initially deeming its sales forecast of 15 million Switch consoles for this fiscal year as “overly ambitious,” it appears on track to meet that target.
However, maintaining this pace might prove challenging for Nintendo. Upcoming releases include Super Mario Bros Wonder (October 20th), Detective Pikachu Returns (October 6th), WarioWare: Move It! (November 3rd), and a refreshed Super Mario RPG on November 17th. None of these titles seem to have the potential to replicate the impact of Breath of the Wild, and the sales of this game (alongside movie profits) are likely to steadily decrease.
As for the six-year-old Switch, Nintendo has not yet unveiled any successor. While there have been circulating rumors of a next-gen Switch landing in 2024, there isn’t much substantial evidence to back this up.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Nintendo’s Q1 profits soar with Zelda & Mario movie sales. Switch sales up. Exciting game lineup ahead. Next-gen Switch rumors circulate. Nintendo
Q: What contributed to Nintendo’s record Q1 profits?
A: Nintendo’s record Q1 profits were mainly attributed to the exceptional sales of two major franchises: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The company earned 185.44 billion yen ($1.3 billion) on sales of 461.34 billion yen ($3.2 billion), surpassing its previous fiscal Q1 record.
Q: How well did The Super Mario Bros. Movie perform?
A: The Super Mario Bros. Movie achieved remarkable success, with approximately 168.10 million people watching it worldwide. As of July 26th, it generated $1.349 billion in revenue, making it the highest-grossing original film based on a video game and the second highest-grossing animated film.
Q: What were the sales figures for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
A: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sold 18.51 million copies since its May release, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 1.67 million units in the last quarter alone. The sales of Zelda accounted for around half of the first-party software sold in this fiscal year, as reported by Nintendo.
Q: How did the sales of Nintendo Switch fare during this period?
A: Nintendo Switch sales showed an increase compared to the same quarter last year, reaching 3.91 million units in the last quarter. Out of these, 2.83 million were the more expensive OLED model. The popularity of Zelda likely contributed to this rise as buyers sought a new or improved console to play the game.
Q: What are some of the upcoming games in Nintendo’s lineup?
A: Nintendo has an exciting game lineup ahead, including titles like Super Mario Bros Wonder (October 20th), Detective Pikachu Returns (October 6th), WarioWare: Move It! (November 3rd), and a refreshed version of Super Mario RPG with updated graphics on November 17th.
Q: Is there any information about a next-gen Nintendo Switch?
A: While there are rumors circulating about a next-gen Switch possibly arriving in 2024, Nintendo has yet to make any official announcements regarding the release of a successor to the current Switch console.
More about Nintendo’s Q1 profits soar with Zelda & Mario movie sales. Switch sales up. Exciting game lineup ahead. Next-gen Switch rumors circulate. Nintendo
- “Nintendo announces record Q1 profits thanks to Zelda and Mario movie sales” – The Verge
- “Nintendo’s earnings report for Q1 2023” – Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- “The Super Mario Bros. Movie breaks records as highest-grossing video game adaptation” – Variety
- “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sales figures” – Nintendo News
- “Nintendo Switch sales surge in Q1 2023” – IGN
- “Upcoming Nintendo game releases” – Nintendo Official Website
- “Rumors of next-gen Nintendo Switch in 2024” – Bloomberg
4 comments
zelda and mario rule the world, smashin’ records, no stoppin’ nintendo now! can’t wait for those new games, gonna be epic!
wowza, mario movie hittin’ big, makin’ billions, nintendo’s on fire! gotta get my hands on that new switch, rumors buzzin’ about next-gen!
nintendo makin’ a ton of money, zelda and mario movie crushin’ it! switch sales up too, lookin’ good yo!
switch sales risin’, zelda boostin’ ’em for sure, love my oled model! hope those next-gen rumors come true, gotta upgrade soon!