Nintendo’s new Pokemon game has stronger debut than ‘Pokemon Go’
EARLY revenue for Nintendo’s new mobile Pokemon game is more than 70 per cent higher than what Pokemon Go generated at launch. Even so, it might not be the blockbuster the company needs to reverse persistent sales declines.
The game, Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket, has grossed about US$101 million and amassed over 38 million downloads in its first 25 days, according to the analytics company Apptopia. By contrast, Pokemon Go generated roughly US$59 million in the same period after it debuted in 2016.
Still, it will be challenging to match the long-term success of Pokemon Go, a first-of-its-kind game for Nintendo and co-creator Niantic that gained popularity by turning an augmented-reality character hunt into a social experience for gamers.
“It is highly unlikely to be as big as Pokemon Go, which generates around US$1 billion annually,” Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said. “Nintendo gets 32 per cent of profit and it is likely profit is no more than US$250 million annually,” he added.
A Nintendo spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nintendo earlier this month reported that its sales declined for a fifth consecutive quarter and cut its full-year outlook, citing weak software sales and flagging demand for its Switch gaming console.
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Viral mobile Pokemon games have helped its top line in the past. Pokemon Go has generated over US$5 billion of in-app purchases since launching in 2016, according to Apptopia data. In a 2017 presentation, Nintendo attributed a boost in sales to the title’s success.
While Pokemon TCG Pocket is free to play, there’s also a US$10 monthly premium subscription and in-game currency that allows users to purchase more virtual card packs and accessories.
Not all players are keen on paying for these extras. “There’s something about apps that I don’t want to pay for,” said Noah Eiseman, a daily user of the game. “I have not felt the pressure yet, but I have also been mostly collecting cards and not battling online.”
The new title – co-developed by DeNA and Creatures – hit number one in the card game app category on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store, surpassing popular games such as Mattel’s UNO! and Activision Blizzard’s Hearthstone. BLOOMBERG
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