Nintendo 3DS To Have “Significant Harvest Year” Says Iwata

“Posting an operating loss for the fourth fiscal year running is something unacceptable,” Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said to analysts and investors during a financial results briefing today. “We see this fiscal year as a time to prioritize restoration of the balance of revenue and expenses.”

Part of Nintendo’s strategy to work their way back up to profitability is to release a steady stream of Nintendo 3DS games to sustain that platform. Iwata pointed out that the 3DS has sold over 43 million units worldwide, and that overseas sales of Nintendo 3DS titles have grown by 20-40%. Games such as Super Smash Bros. and Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire will further contribute to its success, he stated.

“By leveraging upon its large installed base, we are aiming to make this fiscal year a significant harvest year,” Iwata said.

Additionally, Iwata pointed to Tomodachi Life as a game that Nintendo would like to succeed with overseas. Iwata feels that Tomodachi Life has a chance of gaining popularity the same way Animal Crossing did, and that he’s personally been reading comments from overseas gamers regarding the title.

“Fans have responded favorably to the [Nintendo Direct] footage by saying, ‘Once again, Nintendo will bring us another weird software title!’,” Iwata said. “I personally have been hearing their reactions, and while some people still do not know what kind of game Tomodachi Life is, it appears that a number of them want to play it anyway.”

Iwata pointed to Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate as a game that will play a key role in the Nintendo 3DS business, both in Japan and the West. He also made mention of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, the new Taiko Drum Master game for 3DS and Yo-kai Watch 2 as titles that will contribute to the platform’s growth in Japan.

He went on to mention that “many more titles” from third-party publishers are in development for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. Iwata added that Nintendo will continue to work with these companies to help make their games a success outside Japan, similar to Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven and Bravely Default.