Nintendo's Q1 fiscal results show sales slump

by David Hinkle { Jul 30th 2009 at 11:18AM }

Nintendo released its latest financial earnings report for the period ending June 30 (Q2 to us, but fiscal Q1 to those business types at the house Mario built) ... and it could've been better. Don't be fooled: Nintendo still managed to make profits across the board, but compared to the same period last year, profits weren't nearly as dramatic.

First, let's talk DS. Nintendo revealed lifetime sales of the DS has reached a whopping 107.75 million units and that the new DSi has managed to reach a respectable 6.68 million. Hardware sales for this quarter were lower than last year, however, as Nintendo revealed it only sold 5.97 million handhelds compared to the 6.94 million sold in 2008's fiscal first quarter. Even software was down quite a bit, with a mere 29.09 million units of DS software flying off store shelves this quarter compared to the more impressive 36.69 million of last year.

On the Wii side, Nintendo revealed lifetime sales have reached 52.62 million units, but that 2009 console sales were down as well. Nintendo reported that during this year's fiscal first quarter, the company could only unload 2.23 million Wiis compared to the 5.17 million it sold during this same time period last year. Software on the platform also took a hit, as Nintendo recorded only 31.07 million units managed to find consumer's homes compared to the 40.41 million of last year. It's important to note that last year's sales were significantly boosted by the releases of Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit.

So, as one can guess, Nintendo saw its massive profits shaved down quite a bit this past quarter. With all of the dips in hardware and software sales, Nintendo saw its net sales drop a staggering 40 percent to ¥253.4 billion ($2.65 billion) compared to last year's ¥423.38 billion ($4.43 billion). Nintendo also saw a drop in its operating income, which fell from last year's ¥119.19 billion to ¥40.4 billion ($1.25 billion to $422.5 million), a decline of 60.61 percent. So ... who do you call when your money-printing machine is on the fritz?

Tags: business, hardware, japan, mario-kart-wii, nintendo, nintendo-dsi, sales, software, wii-fit

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

JXCgunrunna @ Jul 30th 2009 11:26AM

You call a painter so Nintendo can get their new colors out and keep their sales up.

Rob @ Jul 30th 2009 11:27AM

Damn, the economy is even effecting Nintendo, things must really suck then.

Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 30th 2009 11:28AM

I think this is ALWAYS the solution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzGWvZAd228

tenor77 @ Jul 30th 2009 3:23PM

Office Space references will always get you a +1

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 30th 2009 11:28AM

Every console is down compared to last year... but last year, by this time, a lot of heavy hitters were released for the three systems: GTA4, SSBB, WiiFit, MGS4, etc...

But I think that the right answer here at Joystiq would be: teh fadzz iz overr!

Wiizer (MW2 Sweatshop Entrepreneur) @ Jul 30th 2009 11:31AM

Scribblenauts is the next 'fad'!

And by 'fad' I mean 'DS seller'!

Rob @ Jul 30th 2009 11:32AM

If the fad is "the video game industry", then yes, that is indeed correct. Sony tanked hard too, and If I miss my guess Microsoft is not doing well either.

josh @ Jul 30th 2009 11:37AM

"if i miss my guess"

you mean UNLESS you miss your guess

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 30th 2009 11:37AM

I forgot the /sarcasm tag...

By the way guys... Best Buy has Mushroom Men at just $10 (store only)... oh my... I have been playing that game a lot, and is truly a gem. Is kinda like American McGees Alice, but with mushrooms.

samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 30th 2009 11:40AM

"Is kinda like American McGees Alice, but with mushrooms."

And a horrible, nausea-inducing camera!

Rob @ Jul 30th 2009 11:44AM

That's for add effect, didn't you know that?

ballistic3188 @ Jul 30th 2009 11:30AM

i don't know maybe give it new paint job or pack it with a game people really want....
wait a sec monster hunter and the black wii and coming out in japan.... hmmm smart move nintendo smart move

Shagittarius @ Jul 30th 2009 11:34AM

Call the plumber...

Strike Man @ Jul 30th 2009 11:37AM

He'll know what to do?

JXCgunrunna @ Jul 30th 2009 11:45AM

He means cuz Mario is the plumber and Mario games make money. Very funny Shag

Strike Man @ Jul 30th 2009 11:52AM

JXCgunrunna, it was an attempt at humor using a very, very obscure Weird Al reference. Nevermind. :p

samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 30th 2009 11:52AM

Betcha this guy makes more than my lawyer
If he works for one day, costs you half a year's pay
(Baby) He can be here by 2:00
So if you've got cash, he'll be there in a flash
Makin' service calls in his overalls
(Baby) He'll do his best for you

Sewer's backing up (up, up)?
Got you feelin' down (down, down)?
Ba ba-b ba, ba ba-b ba baby
Don't forget my plumber
Ba ba-b ba, ba ba-b ba baby
Leaky pipes are a bummer
Ba ba-b ba, ba ba-b ba baby
Time to call the plumber
Maybe call a few

Gotta problem with plumbing?
Gotta blame it on something
Blame it on the drain that was cloggin', cloggin'
Blame it on the faucet that drips all night
If hairballs, grease & goo
Won't let the water through
Blame it on the drain, yeah, yeah

When I flush the john, now when I flush the john
It turns the shower on
(Roto-Rooter 6-5000)
Ba ba-b ba baby
Baby call my plumber
He'll know what to do

JXCgunrunna @ Jul 30th 2009 1:05PM

haha wow. yea that went right over my head then.

Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 11:37AM

Colors, Monster Hunter, and Dragon Quest to solve the problems of the their platforms in Japan, but other sales won't see much help until the holiday season arrives.

Follisimo @ Jul 30th 2009 11:42AM

Everyone owns a Wii now so sales are going down. (not really but supply has finally met up to demand)

Engerz @ Jul 30th 2009 11:48AM

Just wanted to point out, they no longer use the red colors, it's gray now. And this coming from a nostalgia Nintendo fan.

Ozzman_79 @ Jul 30th 2009 11:51AM

While 60% is a big drop, let's not forget what titles Nintendo relaed in Q1 2008 vs what they released in Q1 2009. It would be hard to match the brisk business they did in Q1 2008, recession or not.

It's like Microsoft and Xbox for NDP data this year. They're the only console with increases this year over last, but only because last year was so dismal to start with (until the price cut changed all that, but quick). Just like it's difficult for Microsoft to NOT do better with Xbox this year, it's difficult for Nintendo NOT to do worse this year.

Cody @ Jul 30th 2009 12:35PM

Great points all around!

KIMP @ Jul 30th 2009 11:51AM

No big surprise there.
The whole video game industry is down in sales/profits from last year.

The economy is down
and there is no big anticipated games like there was last year (SUPER SMASH BROS., GRAND THEFT AUTO SAN ANDREA...).

It as NOTHING TO DO with Nintendo.

samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 30th 2009 11:55AM

NO! WRONG, fanboy!

TEH FADZ IS OVAR!

AH HAHAHAHA HAHAH HAH HAHA HAHAAAA!

incubeezer @ Jul 30th 2009 12:47PM

san andreas?

Storm Eagle @ Jul 30th 2009 1:59PM

(Someone's parents lied and told him it was the new Grand Theft Auto when they gave it to him for Christmas....)

KIMP @ Jul 31st 2009 1:35AM

I meant Grand Theft Auto IV which was released on 29 April 2008, after a six month delay. Made an error as havent played a GTA game since VICE CITY.

Markez @ Jul 30th 2009 12:09PM

Off-topic, but I've yet to claim my Club Nintendo reward. Option is between that Punch-Out level and the Mario hat. What have other people chosen? I'm now realizing how stupid the Mario hat sounds :P I did afterall get a big Mario from an amusement park last year, and don't really think I need a big hat.

Rob @ Jul 30th 2009 12:14PM

I choose the hat, but only because it will fit my big melon head.

Roto13 @ Jul 30th 2009 12:23PM

I chose the hat because I'll probably get more enjoyment out of it than out of one match in Punch-Out, which I can do the nasty homebrew thing with if I want to play it anyway.

samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 30th 2009 12:26PM

I chose the hat, too. Mostly because I wanted something tangible for my Consumer Whoreishness.

Nook @ Jul 30th 2009 12:29PM

I took the hat. Screw a demo of a game that's on sale now. For shame Nintendo, for shame.

Markez @ Jul 30th 2009 12:30PM

Hrrrm.... Now the hat sounds like the better option. But a special Doc level? No appeal?

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 30th 2009 12:32PM

I took the Punch-Out!! game, because it will be unique and not so easy to get. The hat will be available at eBay very quickly and I will buy it, so I will have both prizes.

Moptimus Slime (Leader of Princess Griffins Royal Guard) @ Jul 30th 2009 12:36PM

looks like the hat

*puts on sunglasses*

is the REAL knock out

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 12:44PM

I would've taken the game, but i was 60 coins too low, so i just get the calendar, which i ordered a while ago and still haven't gotten

Storm Eagle @ Jul 30th 2009 2:00PM

I chose the calendar.

Oh, wait.....

Roto13 @ Jul 30th 2009 4:28PM

That stuff isn't going out any time soon.

Nook @ Jul 30th 2009 12:24PM

What do you do? You crack the whip on the Zelda / Mario and whatever 'Wii-' game dev teams, you turn a blind eye to items on the tea table that you would otherwise 'upend' and get ready for some type of suprise announcement by years end.

The heat is on! It's on the street!! Wuuuuu-Huuuuu!!!!!
The heat is...ON.

or not.

Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 12:46PM

I'm betting on a megaton of some sort at the Fall Conference. Not necessarily on the caliber of Other M, but something big.

ScottG13 @ Jul 30th 2009 12:42PM

Its a bit of a down year in alot of ways. Nothing really exciting on the hardware, alot of solid, but not flashy software. Most of the big gun sequels for HD consoles have hit and Nintendo has done most of their fan service, too. Gamers are still enjoying games and new people are getting into the hardware, but the recession and the mid-cycle blues are taking effect.

verymetal @ Jul 30th 2009 1:29PM

Nintendo clearly won this generation console war (Xbox 360 and PS3). The winner is decided by who sells the most systems, correct? Nintendo is 20 million ahead of Xbox 360, by the time Xbox 360 is where Nintendo is at now, then Nintendo will probably sell another 10 million, at the least. I dont see anyone catching up to the Wii, anytime soon. Even the so called 10 year life cycle idea that Sony wants us to believe, is laughable. It is funny when people cant admit defeat. I would just turn back around and say "Well, this console has a 20 year life cycle! Hah!" LOL...
The plain and simple thing is this. Nintendo showed the competition, how it is done, and they have followed, obviously. (Mii too Avatars, and motion control, the Sony E3 presentation was just embarrasing to watch, where did Sony's pride go? I guess it went back in Nintendo's wallet). I see that this is a non arguable case. Just ask yourself who has the most systems sold? I think we know who the clear winner is.

shadowbender @ Jul 30th 2009 1:49PM

But, in the gamers mind, it's not who sold the most consoles, but who delivered the most compelling and amazing experience. I think each company did this in their own way, and therefore, each console won somehow. Each company was imaginative, each company was appealing, each company delivered a unique and magnificent experience. Unless some company creates a mediocre system, than I don't think there will ever be a clear system winner. Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony, have all brought something awesome to the wonderful world of gaming.

verymetal @ Jul 30th 2009 1:53PM

Screw that Hippy philosophy. It is called a console war, damnit.

LOL!

HeXeN @ Jul 30th 2009 3:12PM

So sales do declare winners then(I didn't know it was like that).So if it's like that I'll declare wii the winner but can I hear you say that PS1 violated N64 and PS2 raped Gamecube.

verymetal @ Jul 30th 2009 6:16PM

HAHA.

Hey,

The numbers dont lie. You have spoken the truth. I cant argue with that.

I think fanboy wars are the funniest freaking thing...lol. My post was not meant to hurt, I am just stating the facts. Sometimes the truth hurts. In discussions like these, you need to base your statements with facts, and that is what you and I did.

HeXeN @ Jul 30th 2009 6:29PM

Most of you points are correct but since PS3 & 360 (supposedly)already lost do you really want them to go away now?

shadowbender @ Jul 30th 2009 1:42PM

Everyone owns a Wii now, and last year, Nintendo had the best of both worlds by appealing to both the hardcore and casual. They released titles like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and all the while, they were giving to the casual as well. Now, it's 2009, and they're pretty much giving to the casual only, so they're getting half of the pie this year. They basically screwed themselves with their so-called "Everyone Plan", which is, a.k.a.--the casual-only plan. I think 2010 will be a much better year for Nintendo, with games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M. But we have still have some titles coming in for later this year, like some good ol' Japanese action for both Wii and DS, and also New Super Mario Bros. Wii. But other than that, there's nothing else that's truly ground-breaking, hence the reason that 2010 will be a better year for Nintendo.