Nintendo's profits climb more than 400 percent amid coronavirus lockdowns
The coronavirus pandemic isn't taking much of a toll on Nintendo, which just had a massively successful quarter.
The company on Thursday reported $1.37 billion in operating profit from April to June, up more than 400 percent from a year ago and significantly more than expected, while its sales also doubled, CNN reports. The Nintendo Switch console has seen a surge in sales as consumers stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic seek entertainment, and it sold 5.7 million devices this past quarter, a 167 percent year-over-year jump.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo's life simulation game set on a tropical island that launched in March, has been a particularly huge hit. It sold an additional 10.6 million copies this past quarter, according to CNN, which takes its sales to more than 22 million copies.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
To put that in perspective, not only is Animal Crossing already the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but as The Verge's Sam Byford notes, it has actually outsold Nintendo's GameCube.
CNBC described Nintendo's jump in profits for the quarter as "wild," while CNN's Frank Pallotta said the numbers were downright "bonkers." Needless to say, if these sales could be exchanged into bells, Nintendo would have no problem paying off its debts to Tom Nook.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
5 Senate-approved cartoons on the Trump confirmation hearings
Cartoons Artists take on non-answers, drunken rhetoric, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The best new cars for 2025
The Week Recommends From family SUVs to luxury all-electrics these are the most hotly anticipated vehicles
By The Week UK Published
-
Jean-Marie Le Pen: rabble-rousing co-founder of the French National Front
In the Spotlight Once called the 'most hated man in France', Le Pen maintained that his ideas were simply 'ahead of their time'
By The Week UK Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published