Nintendo Posts Annual Net Loss due to Slow Wii U Sales

Underwhelming sales for the Wii U has caused Nintendo to post an annual net loss for the previous fiscal year.

In a report issued this morning, Nintendo posted revenue figures of 572 billion yen (£3.3 billion / $5.6 billion), with a net loss of 23.2 billion yen (£135m / $229m). In the previous fiscal year, which ended March 2013, Nintendo had posted a net profit of 7.1 billion yen (£41m / $70m).

Operating loss tallied up to 46.4 billion yen (£269m / $457 million).

Only 2.7 million Wii U consoles were sold, bringing lifetime sales up to 6.17 million. 3DS figures, however, were more positive with 43.3 million units sold since launch.

Despite low sales for Wii U, 3DS also didn't reach the estimated mark, with Nintendo stating that "net sales were lower than expected due to the fact that the sales units of the Nintendo 3DS hardware, and the Wii U hardware and software did not reach their expected levels."

An "increase in inventory write-down and research and development expenses" were also attributed to the operating loss.

The revised estimated figures for Wii U and 3DS from April 1st to March 31st 2015 are:

• 3.6 million Wii U consoles
• 12 million 3DS consoles