- Nintendo has shared its approach to measuring success for first-party releases.
- It states that 1 million sales are considered underwhelming.
- The gaming giant says that games with 30 million sales are considered big hits, but these are needed once every few years.
Nintendo is undeniably the most successful of the three console manufacturers. It currently boasts the best-selling console, the strongest first-party lineup, and arguably the most diverse user base.
Following this success, it’s interesting to observe Nintendo’s approach to the business. According to Shigeru Miyamoto, the gaming giant does not find a game selling 1 million units a big success.
However, the company only needs a major hit once every three to five years.
Why it matters: Nintendo is set to embark on a new journey in 2025 with the next generation of the Switch. Therefore, the company must set clear goals for optimal results.
In a recent interview, Miyamoto outlined Nintendo’s criteria for a huge hit. He explained that a game selling 30 million units fulfils this criterion, but the gaming giant does not expect all its releases to be this big.
He also discussed that breaking even is not considered great since developers work hard to achieve the best results. This is why Nintendo rarely settles for less, even if it often experiments with smaller titles.
If we can have one big hit every three to five years, we’ll be fine.
-Shigeru Miyamoto
It is important to note that the gaming giant boasts four such titles from the current generation. This includes the following games:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (61.97 million)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (45.36 million)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (34.22 million)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (31.85 million)
This list excludes the Pokemon entries, which easily sell 30 million units, as well.
Another such hit is currently in the making. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has already sold over 18 million units, so it should reach the 30 million figure soon.
Miyamoto’s statement is interesting since the sustainability of console gaming has been a major debate recently. Nintendo is arguably the most traditional gaming giant since it sticks to the principles of exclusivity and experimental gaming.
However, the company is more than satisfied with its business right now. There seems to be nothing to worry about as long as it puts out titles that sell 30 million units.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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