Tatsumi Kimishima confirms the Nintendo NX will not be sold at a loss

Based on the information we’ve been able to find from Nintendo’s earnings report, we are already aware that the next Nintendo console, code-named NX, will be launching in March of 2017. There wasn’t much info available about the NX up to that point, but some more info about the potential future of the console is now available.

In a Q/A that Nintendo president, Tatsumi Kimishima, held regarding the earnings report, he addressed the speculation on the cost of Nintendo’s new console.

“we are not thinking of launching the hardware at a loss. When Wii U was launched, the yen was very strong. I am assuming that situation will not repeat itself. Selling at a loss at launch would not support the business, so we are keeping that mind in developing NX.”

In the Q&A, Kimishima also confirms that the delay on the console is to avoid the same software droughts that the 3DS and Wii U suffered through. Noting specifically that missing the holiday window is intentional as they want to create a brand loyalty to the NX.

josh 1“The fact that consumers spend more money in the holiday season may be a big factor in why launching then is a good way to start. However, our hardware and software business structure does not end in that year. We want consumers to continue to play this game system for many years, so we believe that in the beginning it is most important to make sure that everything is in order at launch. In that sense, our approach is that we should wait until we can provide a fully realized experience rather than rushing to launch in the holiday season, and this approach has not changed.”

Finally, another interesting tidbit of information is that Kimishima and team are very aware of the early success of the Miitomo app. Nintendo definitely looks like they are going to take what they’ve learned from the app-launch and social media features so they can apply it to the NX in some way.

“I believe that Miitomo reaching 10 million unique users in the short time since its release shows that it has achieved the level we had planned. At the same time, this system lets us hear the consumers’ opinions. I believe this business requires us to continue to update to respond to these opinions in various ways, so we knew from the beginning that we would not be able to satisfy everyone right away. We believe that it is important to continue to revitalize the applications by quickly implementing feedback from consumers. Only one month has passed since distribution began. Our goals are to act on the feedback we received during this period quickly and increase the amount of consumers who are playing daily.”

In the end, the NX looks like it could be the first “serious” game console that Nintendo has launched since the Gamecube. Time can only tell, but the hype-train is pulling into the station.