Nintendo Revises Forecast, Posts Loss

Nintendo posted its Q3 financial report today for the period ending December 31st, revising forecasts and posting a significant loss.

The Japanese gaming giant reported various losses today compared to this time last year - a hefty 48.3 billion yen loss was highlighted for the nine months running up to the end of 2011, compared to a contrasting 49.5 billion profit during the previous period.

A full fiscal year loss of 65 billion is estimated and reason being the significant reductions on both the 3DS and Wii hardware, particularly the former console, with margins severed after the sooner-than-expected price drop.

Sales are now expected to be around 660 billion yen for the current fiscal year, over a previously expected 790 billion yen.

Specific hardware sales were also lowered given the introduction of the 3DS and growing shift towards the end of the Wii's lifecycle.

• Wii sold 8.92 million (13.72 million previous) - 94.9 million lifetime
• DS sold 4.64 million (15.70 million previous) - 151 million lifetime
• 3DS sold 11.43million - 15 million units lifetime

Nintendo also revised sales expectations for the current fiscal year. Wii now stands at 10 million (previously 12), 14 million 3DS (down from 16) and 5.5 million DS systems (down from 6).