Nintendo has reported a worse than expected, third consecutive operating loss of 46.4 billion JPY (US$457 million) on revenues of US$5.63 billion, as well as a net loss of 23.2 billion JPY (US$229 million) for the fiscal year ending 31 March.
Last fiscal year the Kyoto-based publisher posted an operating loss of US$358 million on US$6.26 billion in revenues and a net profit of US$68.9 million.
Nintendo also reported Wii U console sales of 6.17 million since the system’s launch in November 2012, with 310,000 units sold in the last fiscal quarter. The 3DS/2DS handheld platform has sold 43.3 million units to date, with 590,000 sold in the company’s fourth quarter.
For the next fiscal year ending 31 March 2015, the company forecasts sales of 3.6 million Wii U and 12 million 3DS consoles, and an operating profit of ¥40 billion ($394 million)
“Nintendo will focus on efforts that stimulate the (Wii U) platform by providing software that takes advantage of the Wii U GamePad, utilising its built-in functionality as an NFC reader/writer, and adding Nintendo DS Virtual Console titles to the Wii U software line-up,” said the company in a statement accompanying the financial report.
“By positioning ‘Mario Kart 8’ and ‘Super Smash Bros. for Wii U’ as two main drivers, Nintendo will seek to supply high quality games on a continuous basis,” added Nintendo in the release. “Moreover, Nintendo will also strive to proactively pursue its digital distribution business through the Nintendo eShop.”
