Latest news with #NintendoCo.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GameStop's ‘Staplegate' Switch 2 Fetches $250,000 in Auction
(Bloomberg) -- It could have been a marketing mess. The Dutch Intersection Is Coming to Save Your Life Advocates Fear US Agents Are Using 'Wellness Checks' on Children as a Prelude to Arrests LA Homelessness Drops for Second Year Manhattan, Chicago Murder Rates Drop in 2025, Officials Say At the release of Nintendo Co.'s new console last month, some GameStop Corp. customers found their devices' screens ruined after an employee forcefully stapled receipts to the boxes. Instead, the video game retailer transformed the blunder into another viral moment by selling one of the damaged units for about 500 times its retail price in a charity auction. The punctured Switch 2 fetched $250,000 on eBay Wednesday, compared to $499.99 for a pristine one with Mario Kart included in stores. The lot also includes the black stapler and offending staple, 'carefully extracted and preserved.' The auction is the latest online phenomenon for GameStop, which was at the center of the meme stock craze in 2021, and emblematic of its shift from a retailer of video games to a store more focused on collector's items like trading cards. 'Basically, it turned into a collectible,' Chief Executive Officer Ryan Cohen told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday about the incident, dubbed 'Staplegate' online. The controversy occurred at GameStop's Staten Island, New York location during the midnight launch of the Switch 2 on June 5. Multiple devices were apparently damaged by an 'overenthusiastic employee' who stapled the receipts on to the boxes too aggressively, according to the company. The slip-up quickly trended online as some customers began to post frustrations about their damaged consoles. GameStop quickly replaced the Switch 2s, but the meme-savvy retailer leaned into the snafu with humor, eventually putting the infamous stapler and first console it punctured up for auction. The proceeds will go to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The auction also includes a certificate of authenticity from GameStop's Cohen that claims the now-refurbished Switch 2 'is the first known console to be officially stapled during a product launch by GameStop' and describes the stapler as 'a retail legend.' As the bidding began, Cohen said that he would include his underwear if it reached six figures and that he would personally fly the winner out to Miami to deliver the bonus item over lunch at McDonald's if the price hit seven figures. The spectacle is indicative of GameStop's strategy to become a destination for collectors and pursue community-oriented initiatives, leveraging its passionate base of retail investors. The company is focusing on growing its trading card business, such as Pokémon, while also investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Revenue from collectibles rose 55% in the first quarter compared to last year, while sales of hardware and software fell around 30% each. Forget DOGE. Musk Is Suddenly All In on AI How Starbucks' CEO Plans to Tame the Rush-Hour Free-for-All How Hims Became the King of Knockoff Weight-Loss Drugs Thailand's Changing Cannabis Rules Leave Farmers in a Tough Spot The New Third Rail in Silicon Valley: Investing in Chinese AI ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Lindsell Train Global Equity Fund's Comment on Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NTDOY)
Lindsell Train Ltd, an investment management company, has released its "Lindsell Train Global Equity Fund" first-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The objective of the fund is to boost long-term Shareholders' capital from an actively managed global equity portfolio, mainly on recognized exchanges in developed countries worldwide. The fund returned -2.0% in the quarter, outperforming the -4.7% return for the benchmark MSCI World Index. In addition, you can check the top 5 holdings of the fund to know its best picks in 2025. In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, Lindsell Train Global Equity Fund highlighted stocks such as Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY). Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) is a video game company that develops, manufactures, and sells home entertainment products. The one-month return of Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) was 8.77%, and its shares gained 66.08% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 2, 2025, Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) stock closed at $22.82 per share, with a market capitalization of $106.133 billion. Lindsell Train Global Equity Fund stated the following regarding Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: "The cause of Nintendo Co., Ltd.'s (OTC:NTDOY) exuberant performance has of course been the build up to, and now the ultimate reveal of the Switch 2, its much-anticipated new flagship console. A number of aspects from the launch provide continued cause for optimism. Pricing for both the console and Nintendo's first-party games was robust, and at the higher end of estimates, demonstrating the clear confidence the company has in the quality of its latest product offerings. There was an impressive line-up of third-party titles (Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwart's Legacy, Civilization VII), which should broaden consumer appeal further. Plus, a number of compelling new functionalities were introduced that will require a Nintendo Online subscription, which represents a healthy way for Nintendo to convert an increasing percentage of its consumer base to a more intimate relationship, with more data sharing, and regular subscription fees. We look forward to further incremental updates and reveals throughout the year in the lead up to the launch day, and beyond that, the all important year-end holiday season." A close up of a person's hands using a home console gaming device. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 1 hedge fund portfolios held Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) at the end of the first quarter, which was 1 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:NTDOY) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the undervalued AI stock set for massive gains. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. While we acknowledge the potential of NTDOY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Los Angeles Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Amazon misses out on Switch 2 sales after Nintendo pulled products from U.S. site
Nintendo Co. pulled its products from Inc.'s U.S. site after a disagreement over unauthorized sales, meaning the e-commerce company missed out on the recent debut of Nintendo's Switch 2 — the biggest game console launch of all time. The Japanese company stopped selling on Amazon after noticing that third-party merchants were offering games for sale in the U.S. at prices that undercut Nintendo's advertised rates, according to a person familiar with the situation. Enterprising sellers were buying Nintendo products in bulk in Southeast Asia and exporting them to the U.S., said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential information. Nintendo product listings started disappearing from Amazon's U.S. site last year, gaming news outlets reported at the time. The listings had previously appeared as 'Sold by Amazon,' which typically denotes merchandise the online retailer buys directly from brands. Some Nintendo products remained on the site, but they were listed by independent merchants who sell their goods on Amazon's sprawling online marketplace. Amazon tried to assuage Nintendo by offering to attach labels to products that guarantee they're authentic. Amazon uses the technique to assure shoppers products aren't counterfeits and to help it track merchandise. But the offer wasn't sufficient, the person said, and Nintendo ultimately opted to pull its products from Amazon in the U.S. 'There is no such fact. We do not disclose details of negotiations or contracts with retailers,' a Nintendo spokesperson said in an e-mailed response, declining to elaborate further. An Amazon spokesperson said 'the claims made by Bloomberg regarding our relationship with Nintendo are inaccurate' but declined to specify how. 'Amazon is pleased to offer Nintendo products directly to our customers as part of our commitment to providing an exceptional shopping experience with the widest selection possible,' the spokesperson said. When Nintendo released the hotly anticipated Switch 2 this month, Walmart Inc., Target Corp., Best Buy Co. and GameStop Corp. all stocked the console in their U.S. stores. Amazon is selling the Switch 2 in foreign markets, including Canada, Japan and the U.K., but the company's U.S. customers have been out of luck, with some taking to social media to wonder when the world's largest online retailer might have it in stock. The U.S. accounts for about two-thirds of Amazon's sales. Nintendo is hardly the first brand to clash with Amazon over how third-party merchants conduct themselves on the company's marketplace. Big brands have long said Amazon needs to do more to police independent sellers and tamp down counterfeits. Over the years, brands also have pulled their products from the site because they say Amazon doesn't give them enough control over how their goods are displayed and sold. Amazon has worked to court high-profile holdouts, including by filing lawsuits against suspected counterfeiters. In 2018, Amazon and Apple Inc. struck a deal that permitted Amazon to sell the latest iPhones and other products. Amazon subsequently banned unauthorized third-party merchants from selling refurbished products built by Apple. Another one-time holdout – Nike Inc. – recently signaled it would resume selling products through Amazon. In recent weeks, Nintendo appears to have reestablished a direct relationship with Amazon in the U.S., with preorders for the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza appearing on the site as sold by Amazon. But, as of Friday, there was no Switch 2 listing, and Amazon didn't appear on Nintendo's list of retailers in the U.S. that carry the console. Nintendo sold 3.5 million-plus units of the Switch 2 in just four days, a record-breaking start for the company's first new console in eight years. The company hopes to sell 15 million units by next March. Gamers from Tokyo to San Francisco lined up for hours earlier this month to get their hands on one of gadgets. The long-awaited Switch 2 succeeds the hot-selling original, which pioneered a hybrid design that lets gamers play at home on a TV and on the move. Day writes for Bloomberg.
Asahi Shimbun
24-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Switch 2 sales go gangbusters, but can Nintendo keep up the pace?
After winning a sales lottery for the Nintendo Switch 2, a customer picks up the new gaming console at the counter of an electronics store in Osaka's Naniwa Ward on June 5. (Takayo Oyama) On launch day, about 20 individuals who won a sales lottery for the Switch 2 lined up in front of a Joshin Denki Co. electronics store in the Nipponbashi district of Osaka's Naniwa Ward before it opened at 10 a.m. "I know only one or two people in my close circle who won the lottery," said a 27-year-old who had taken time off from his job. "I want to go home and play it as soon as possible." Nintendo Co. released its new home video game console Switch 2 at home and abroad with much fanfare on June 5. The company announced it sold a record 3.5 million-plus units globally in the first four days of the Switch 2's release. Following the success of the original model, the video game giant's eventual goal is to have a Switch for every person. While pricing is the key to achieving that goal, looming U.S. tariffs and other factors cast a shadow on the prospect, leaving Nintendo stranded at the crossroads in continuing the independent path it has forged with its popular titles. The original Switch came out in 2017, drawing attention as a hybrid console that was both portable and could be plugged into a TV at home. It has since sold a total of 152.12 million worldwide as of the end of March and holds the title as the company's best-selling console ever in Japan. The Switch 2's improvements include a faster processing speed, improved graphics and a slightly larger 7.9-inch (20-centimeter) screen. But its appearance and operability largely remain unchanged from the previous model, though Nintendo said it is a legitimate evolution. GAMERS WILL PAY MORE Upping the retail cost of each new generation of gaming consoles or their refined versions has become an industry trend. Sony Group Corp.'s PlayStation 5 Pro is notably priced above 100,000 yen ($690). In this, the Switch 2 was not an outlier. Its multilanguage version intended for global consumers is 69,980 yen, including tax. The Japanese-only version is cheaper at 49,980 yen, but is still 17,000 yen more expensive than its predecessor. Though it has historically shown less interest in pursuing heavy-duty graphics, Nintendo's focus on boosting the processing power of its new console was part of its aim to expand its lineup of playable titles the Switch could not handle. Whether this will work in Nintendo's favor depends on if its prices can entice a wider customer base beyond the company's hardcore fans. 'Because it is being sold at a higher price (than the previous model), we are aware it is reasonably difficult (for the Switch 2) to be widely owned at an early stage,' said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. Further adding insult to injury are U.S. President Donald Trump's swathe of tariffs. While the United States is a cash cow for Nintendo, Switch 2 consoles intended for North America are largely manufactured in Vietnam. The company already faces a profit loss of several tens of billions of yen, according to Furukawa. As the gross margin per console is less than the Switch, it is also possible that Nintendo will be pressed to raise the retail price in the United States depending on what policies the government may adopt. IMMOVABLY EXCLUSIVE Part of Nintendo's draw comes from its tight control over its franchises. Video game publishers choosing to simultaneously release or later port a title across multiple platforms has become common practice over the years. This strategy is geared toward maximizing profits due to increased labor costs and prolonged development periods. Meanwhile, Nintendo has stuck to its own way of doing business. The company has yet to make any of its properties, "Super Mario Bros." and "The Legend of Zelda" among them, available on non-Nintendo consoles. Nintendo has established a business model that licenses its video game characters and their worlds for theme parks and film adaptations. "Those popular characters are what make Nintendo's strategy what it is," said Hiroko Saga, editor-in-chief of the Weekly Famitsu video game magazine. "Rising prices of video game consoles was an inevitable trend. Future sales depend on how many of the new game titles released will be attractive enough to convince gamers to pay for the Switch 2."
The Mainichi
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Tokyo stocks rise for 3rd straight day on weaker yen, Nintendo
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks climbed Wednesday for a third consecutive trading day, with the Nikkei index ending at a new four-month high, helped by a weaker yen against the U.S. dollar amid fears of the Israel-Iran conflict escalating and rises in game-related issues including Nintendo. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 348.41 points, or 0.90 percent, from Tuesday at 38,885.15, its highest since Feb.19. The broader Topix index finished 21.40 points, or 0.77 percent, higher at 2,808.35. On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by pulp and paper, securities house and precision instrument issues. The dollar, often sought in times of crisis, remained firm mostly in the lower 145 yen range in Tokyo, as hopes for a cease-fire in the Middle East receded after news reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering attacking Iranian nuclear sites. The yen was also sold after Bank of Japan chief Kazuo Ueda expressed Tuesday a cautious stance on further raising interest rates, citing uncertainty about economic prospects caused by steep U.S. tariffs, dealers said. Stocks initially declined, tracking falls overnight on Wall Street amid caution over Middle East tensions. But they soon erased their losses and rose as a weaker yen helped lift export-oriented auto shares. The market later gained upward momentum, as game-related stocks were notably sought on growing expectations for an improved business performance after Nintendo Co. said it had sold over 3.5 million units of its Switch 2 console worldwide in four days following its launch this month. "The strong sales are extremely positive for the market," said Makoto Sengoku, senior equity market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Co. "The (game) content industry has been setting the theme of the market, and although Trump's tariffs may have some impact on the industry, it has dedicated fans" supporting it, Sengoku added. Nintendo rose for the fifth straight trading day, ending up 6.59 percent at 13,260 yen.
