June 28th 2024.
It's no secret that Nintendo is a major player in the video game industry. Their beloved franchises, such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, have captured the hearts of gamers for decades. But have you ever wondered how Nintendo manages to stay on top financially? In a recently discovered interview, Nintendo's legendary creator Shigeru Miyamoto sheds some light on the company's financial strategy.
Firstly, it's important to note that Nintendo, like most video game companies, is quite tight-lipped about their finances. They don't often disclose how much they spend on game development or how much they expect to make in return. However, Miyamoto reveals that Nintendo's budgets are typically lower than those of Western companies. This may change in the future as game development becomes more expensive.
But what caught our attention is Miyamoto's statement about the need for a "30+ million sized hit" every few years. This may seem like a huge number, but it's actually quite rare for a game to achieve such massive sales. In fact, only a handful of games in history have reached that mark. Miyamoto explains that this is a key factor in Nintendo's success and that breaking even is not enough.
When asked about what Nintendo considers to be a "big hit," Miyamoto responds with "about 30 million." This may seem like a lofty goal, but Nintendo has already achieved this with four of their Switch titles: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Considering the Switch has only been around for seven years, Nintendo is well ahead of their target for this generation.
Miyamoto goes on to say that it's important not to be solely motivated by greed when making business decisions. He believes that it's crucial to pay attention to potential growth opportunities and not just focus on avoiding losses. This is a refreshing perspective, especially in an industry where live service games and sequels often dominate.
It's worth noting that this interview is from January and only in Japanese, but it's just been discovered by a fan on Famiboards. Miyamoto and Mother/EarthBound creator Shigesato Itoi discuss these topics in front of a small group of students. This further highlights Nintendo's tendency to keep their financial strategies behind closed doors.
In the interview, Miyamoto also talks about how they can sense a game's potential from the beginning, but if they are only driven by greed, they could miss out on these opportunities. This is something that sets Nintendo apart from other publishers, according to Itoi.
Overall, it's clear that Nintendo's business approach is not solely focused on maximizing profits. They prioritize nurturing and growing their games, rather than just trying to break even. This attitude has served them well, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for the future. Who knows, maybe we'll see even more record-breaking sales with the highly anticipated release of the Switch 2.
What do you think of Nintendo's approach to business? Do you agree with Miyamoto's statements? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for all the latest gaming content and exclusive releases.
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