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● In likely the largest videogame news story of the year, Nintendo Co., Ltd. President Tatsumi Kimishima announced that he is stepping down on 28 June 2018 and will be replaced by the much younger (46) Shuntaro Furukawa who says “I expect to say what needs to be said to run the company”. Kimishima, along with Shigeru Miyamoto will assist Furukawa.
● In more shake-ups: Satoru Shibata will leave his position as Nintendo of Europe President and return to working in Kyoto.,Shinya Takahashi will become Senior Managing Executive Officer, and both Yoshiaki Koizumi and Takashi Tezuka have been promoted to members of the board (Directors) replacing some retirees.
● Nintendo’s revenue for the financial year ending 31 March 2018 more than doubled to ¥1.06 trillion ($9.7 billion) largely due to selling 15.05 million Nintendo Switch units bringing the total to 17.79 million units. Nintendo project a further 20 million this financial year with Kimishima saying there are many unannounced titles for the Switch.
● Nintendo’s operating profit for the year was ¥177.6 billion ($1.6 billion), up from ¥29.4 in the previous financial year. Nintendo forecast revenue of ¥1.2 trillion and operating profit of ¥225 billion for the current financial year. Nintendo 3DS sold 6.4 million units for the past financial year and Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom 5.28 million.
● Another top story is Nintendo announcing a partnership with Cygames for the mobile game sector, including the acquisition of 5% of their stock. The first game announced is the Action RPG Dragalia Lost which is co-developed by the two companies and scheduled for Summer 2018 in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao with North America and Europe later.
● Here are the first party Nintendo Switch million sellers:-
Super Mario Odyssey – 10.41M
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 9.22M
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 8.48M
Splatoon 2 – 6.02M
1-2-Switch – 2.29M
ARMS – 1.85M
Xenoblade 2 – 1.31M
Kirby Star Allies – 1.26M
Pokkén Tournament DX – 1.16M
● And the projected first party release schedule:-
Pokémon RPG for Nintendo Switch – ‘2018 or later’
Fire Emblem for Nintendo Switch – ‘2018’
Yoshi for Nintendo Switch – ‘2018’
Super Smash Bros. – ‘2018’
Bayonetta 3 – ‘TBA’
Metroid Prime 4 – ‘TBA’
● Hamster announced the next batch of ACA NEOGEO series games:-
Tokuten Ou 2: Real Fight
Baseball Stars Professional
Top Players Golf
Ninja Combat
Riding Hero
● UNTIES will publish a retail version of Fushigi no Gensokyo TOD -RELOADED- (Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded) priced at ¥4,968 for the standard version with limited editions also coming. A new series announcement is expected to be made next week (5 May).
● Nintendo announced the next ARMS Party Crash event with a theme of ‘Conflict of Interests’ taking place from 03 – 06 May and sees Spring Man take on Ninjara.
● The Topper Hat and Topper Suit have been added to Super Mario Odyssey after you’ve finished the main story. Picture here.
● Intragames released the PlayStation 4 version of the roguelike RPG Survive! Mr. Cube and said that work is also progressing on the development of the Nintendo Switch version.
● Shinobi Refle -Senran Kagura- is one of many new games on sale in Japan. Check out the full list here.
● Pokémon Ultra Sun Moon has sold 7.51 million units worldwide as of 31 March 2018.
● Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp welcomed the beginning of the new Gyroidite Gathering event with character themed items (pictured here), as well as Hopkins’s game cookie with all manner of game consoles (pictured here)!
● Fire Emblem Heroes saw Tap Battle: Illusory Dungeon – Formidable Foes begin plus there’s some daily quests.
● Nintendo of America and Europe announced a Turtles themed Splatfest for the next three weekends in celebration of the upcoming “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” animated series. Round 1 sees Raph vs. Leo and Round 2 vs. Mikey and Donnie.
● Outright Games announced Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on 17 July in North America and 20 July in Europe. Trailer here.
● Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Game Freak Inc., have applied for a trademark in the United States for a digital card format likely related to Pokémon and which can be used to capture “the character of the wild monster by operating the player character and making it a fellow character.”
● Sanrio announced the participants for the next Sanrio Character Collaboration Ranking Contest which begins on 10 May and includes Splatoon 2 × Sanrio Characters! Check out the picture here.
● Koei Tecmo Games announced they have shipped 520,000 units of Shingeki no Kyokin 2 (Attack on Titan 2) across all platforms. Fire Emblem Musou (Warriors) has exceeded one million units on both Nintendo platforms.
● The Splatoon2 Original Soundtrack – Octotune is now available for preorder. Use the code JPNINTENDO for a $3 discount!
● Watch the opening video for Shining Resonance Refrain from Sega here.
● A TV commercial for Sekaiju no Meikyuu X (Etrian Odyssey Cross) from Atlus here.
● A Shingeki no Kyokin 2 (A.O.T.2) free update introduction video from Koei Tecmo here.
● The DEEMO Ver.1.2 update trailer from Flyhigh Works here.
● Last but not least, a trailer for Zeraora’s ‘Plasma Fist’ signature move in Pokémon Ultra Sun Moon here.
● Many thanks to both naruki and ComJay for news tips today!
