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Nintendo’s Switch is a moneymaking hit and the future looks good
The last time Nintendo opened its books, we learned that the Switch had already sold more in nine months than the Wii U had in its entire lifetime. But it's only natural that after a spike in interest over the holiday period, things would start to slow down. And that's exactly what we're seeing today in Nintendo's latest earnings, marking the end of its financial year. Over the past three months, Nintendo has shifted 2.93 million Switch consoles. That's nowhere near the 7.23 million figure for the three months prior, but it still pushes total sales up to a tasty 17.79 million.
‘Super Mario Odyssey’ gets its Balloon World update
If you're looking to squeeze a little more out of Super Mario Odyssey, then Nintendo's got something that'll brighten your day. The company has released a small update to the Switch title, named Balloon World, that includes a new mini-game, plus additional outfits and camera filters. All you need to do to access it is finish the main story, and then search for Luigi in each kingdom and strike up a conversation.
‘Dark Souls’ and 'Mario Tennis' join Switch's 2018 lineup
Nintendo revealed another slew of titles that will come to the Switch, from old favorites and cult classics to, uh, Dark Souls. In today's Nintendo Direct video, the company announced new Kirby and Mario Tennis games headed to the console, plus a couple indie games and re-releases. There's also DLC coming for some of the console's best games, including Super Mario Odyssey, Pokkén Tournament DX and Mario + Rabbids.
Nintendo is really excited about the Switch's detachable gamepads
Nintendo has always believed in the power of local multiplayer games. The company built a business creating digital experiences that are best when shared by people sitting in the same room, on the same couch -- not simply connected via headphones and tinny chat services. The Switch is a testament to this history. The console itself doesn't support voice chat or online invitations, instead relying on a separate smartphone app to connect anyone who dares to play Splatoon 2 with a friend in another city. The hardware is built for local multiplayer: It's a portable system with two small controllers attached to either side of the screen, making it easy for newcomers to join a game in person. For veteran Zelda and Mario producer Yoshiaki Koizumi, these detachable controllers -- called Joy-Cons -- are the most intriguing aspect of the Switch.
Nintendo has already sold over 10 million Switches
That didn't take long: Nintendo has already sold over 10 million of its hybrid home/portable console, the Switch. If you're keeping track at home, that's roughly one million consoles sold every month since March. By comparison, Sony's PlayStation 4 took around ten months to hit that number back in 2014. "This December in Japan we are planning to ship more units than ever before so that even more consumers can purchase and enjoy Nintendo Switch," Nintendo said in a press release.
The best gifts for a console gamer
Don't worry, we're not out to start a console war in our comments: If you're in the market for a new games system, the Xbox One S, PlayStation VR, Nintendo Switch and 2DS XL all made it into our holiday gift guide, for different reasons. Once you figure out which platform is best for your intended, we have a wide assortment of games and accessories, from a 400GB microSDXC card to a custom Xbox controller to the PlayStation Gold wireless headset, among other things. Find all that and more in our gift guide at the link below.
Prepare yourself for 'Super Mario' cereal
It seems even the Mushroom Kingdom eats cereal like the rest of us. Following the release of Super Mario Odyssey, breakfast blog Cerealousy has uncovered a new breakfast treat with Mario and Cappy on the box. Inside, you'll find star-shaped oats and marshmallow pieces in the shape of Super Mushrooms, 1-Up Mushrooms and ? Boxes.
The best Nintendo Switch games
The Nintendo Switch is an excellent game console. If you don't want to quit collecting Power Moons in Super Mario Odyssey but need a change of scenery from your living room, that's entirely doable. Simply take the tablet out of its dock, slide your Joy-cons back on and you can pick up right where you left off, regardless of venue. But there's so much more to play on Switch. The problem is, aside from the games you can buy at retail, they can be hard to find, because Nintendo's digital storefront isn't very well organized. Which is what our list of the best Switch games is for. Simply search for these games by name in the eShop and you're guaranteed to have some fun.
Nintendo reportedly plans to ramp up Switch production in 2018
The Switch, Nintendo's latest hybrid console is doing pretty well for the company, which expects it to outdo the Wii U's lifetime sales within a year. The company obviously thinks so, too, according to a new report at The Wall Street Journal, which says that Nintendo plans to ramp up production of the hardware itself, beginning in April 2018.
Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime on the first year of Switch and beyond
The last time we talked with Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's president and chief operating officer, the company was stepping into uncharted territory with Super Mario Run and the Switch's revolutionary spin on portable gaming. Now, almost a year later, Nintendo's latest console has been a huge success. Super Mario Run, unfortunately, wasn't as profitable as the company would like (despite 200 million downloads). But Nintendo's other mobile game, Fire Emblem Heroes, has been wildly successful, and it's planning to bring the popular Animal Crossing series to iPhones this month. After the failure of the Wii U, that's a surprisingly speedy reversal of fortunes. This time, rather than hoping to be successful, Fils-Aime was able to revel in a strong year.
'Super Mario Odyssey' is selling even faster than 'Zelda'
The Nintendo Switch has been a massive hit since its launch in March, selling more than seven million units worldwide so far, putting it on track to beat Wii U lifetime sales in just a year. But these aren't the only numbers Nintendo gets to flaunt. According to its financial briefing released today, the company estimates sales of Super Mario Odyssey have exceeded two million units in just three days. In other words, since it hit the shelves, the game has sold at a rate of 463 copies a minute (or eight per second).
Nintendo expects Switch will beat Wii U lifetime sales in a year
Nintendo has announced it's sold a further 2.93 million Switch consoles over the latest quarter, reaching just shy of 8 million units total. After another strong quarter, the company is now aiming to sell 14 million units by the time the Switch turns one year old -- up from 10 million it aimed for previously. It's also increased its forecast for the full year, from $6.59 billion to $8.44 billion. If Nintendo hits its targets, that would mean the Switch could best its predecessor, the Wii U, in a single year. The older console only reached 13.56 million sales over the entirety of its five-year lifetime -- it wasn't a hit for the games maker.
'Super Mario Odyssey' is everything it needs to be and more
"A return to form." "A reinvention." There are lots of clichés we fall back on when describing a fresh game in a long-running series. The truth is, Nintendo has constantly reinvented the idea of a 3D Mario game, relentlessly pushing the franchise forward with each release. Super Mario Odyssey is just one more step in the right direction, another evolution of a perfect formula. The setup in Odyssey is as familiar as ever: Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach, so you need to collect an arbitrary item (Power Moons rather than Stars this time) and chase him down to save the day. This time around, Bowser is going from kingdom to kingdom collecting items -- a ring, a gown and so on -- for a wedding ceremony. It's a coherent enough narrative, but the joy of Mario has never been in its story.
An appreciation of 2017's in-game shopkeepers
In-game shops are more than handy outlets to transform random metal scraps and tired old gear into new and useful items. Shops offer a reprieve from the action of whichever digital world you've entered, allowing you to take a moment, breathe and consider the situation from afar. Do you want to play as a gun-toting tank or a sneaky spy? Is your bow powerful enough for the battles ahead? Do you have enough health potions? Does your character look better in green or purple? Only the shop can provide the answers. Overseeing all of these calculations -- and guarding stores' impossibly large piles of loot -- are the shopkeepers. The past year has been incredible for video games, as we've discussed at length, and this infusion of creativity extends to the stingy store servants selling wares and wiles along our adventures. From Cuphead to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 2017 has offered up a buffet of adorable, wacky and nostalgia-ridden shopkeepers for us to enjoy -- so we might as well get to it.
'Super Mario Odyssey' reminds us why we love Mario
Super Mario Odyssey is the most exciting Mario game in years. Sure, the two Galaxy entries on the Wii were inventive, but Nintendo's first Switch game in the series goes a step further and completely changes the way you've come to know Mario. It introduces entirely new powers and customizable outfits, and it brings Mario into strange new worlds. Simply put, it's precisely the Mario entry Nintendo needs right now -- one that'll satisfy longtime fans and entice new Switch owners.
Play 'Super Mario Odyssey' in style with this themed Switch bundle
If you've been waiting for the next mainline Mario game to pick up a Switch, Nintendo has a bundle just for you. Today during its Nintendo Direct stream, the company announced a Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch bundle, complete with Red joy-cons styled after the mascot's hat, a red carrying case bearing the game's logo and a full digital copy of the game.
Nintendo will show off more ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ on Wednesday
Apple isn't the only company showing off new stuff this week. Nintendo has announced it'll hold a 45-minute Direct stream this Wednesday at 6 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Pacific. What's on tap? "Information mainly focused on what's headed to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS over the next few months," according to an email from the gaming titan. Oh, and the announcement specifically mentions we'll hear more about Super Mario Odyssey, which comes out next month (!!!). Unlike Apple's event tomorrow, you can all but guarantee nothing Nintendo announces will cost $1,000.
‘Super Mario Odyssey’ lets player two tag along as Mario's hat
Just like at last year's E3, a new installment in a Nintendo franchise is stealing the show. Super Mario Odyssey already plays like a weird, wonderful new game with an expansive world to explore. But you won't have to go it alone: the new game will let another player take control of Mario's eyeball-lined sentient hat, Cappy.
'Super Mario Odyssey' may look bizarre, but it feels just right
There's perhaps no better example of Nintendo's creativity in game design than the Super Mario Bros. franchise. At a glance, the company's mascot seems like an unchanging, static figure. In reality, every game he stars in tweaks the Mario formula ever so slightly -- adding new power-ups in Super Mario Bros. 3, rethinking level design in Super Mario World or introducing exploration in Super Mario 64. If the E3 demo of the newest game in the franchise is any indication, our favorite plumber's latest adventure is no different: Super Mario Odyssey is a creative, joyously fun remix on a formula the company has been tweaking for decades.
Watch Nintendo's E3 2017 event in under 7 minutes
The E3 Nintendo Spotlight earlier today delivered a load of announcements in about half an hour. We're all busy people, and you might not have time to watch the entire event to catch up on the news. Now you don't have to. We've cut down the the finer points to a clip that's less than seven minutes. Sit back, relax and check out all of the Switch, Mario, Kirby, Yoshi and Pokémon stuff you may have missed. And yes, there's Metroid.
