Pokémon Go fever is so obnoxiously enormous that even we've been relegated to writing about it, as Nintendo's stock has climbed so high over the past couple of weeks that the company's currently more valuable than Sony. And, to be clear, we're not just talking about the PlayStation division – we're referring to the entirety of the Japanese electronics giant.
The House of Mario's shares surged another 12 per cent today, meaning that they're now up a frankly dizzying 120 per cent since Pokémon Go released. This has resulted in the company adding ¥2.5 trillion to its market value, meaning that its market capitalisation of ¥4.5 trillion yen is larger than Sony's ¥4.1 trillion right now. Staggering stuff.
This is the first time that Nintendo's enjoyed a greater market value than Sony since July 2014. Of course, looking at the graphs, it's pretty darn unnatural what's going on with Nintendo's stocks right now, and it will be interesting to see how these figures change once the fever surrounding Pokémon Go inevitably cools a little bit.
[source telegraph.co.uk]
Comments 52
That graph is absolutely insane.
Incredible. This kind of stuff is why I think Nintendo remain so far removed from Sony and MS. They just don't stick to the blueprint anymore - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but when it does it's remarkable.
I have not studied economics or marketing but this think may, in my opinion, backfire. In the Wii case the console sold like crazy but the games not so much so we had a commercial success but a not so sucessfull console with way fewer games from PS3. Most got bored and stored or selled the Wii years ago. In the long term Nintendo was not in a good spot.
Now we have pokemon go and more to come. The average teenager has already a tablet where he can play pokemon, mario et al for free. Why a parent should spend euros to buy a 3DS and a proper pokemon game or an NX? So it may not work in the long run. I guess we will see when Sun and Moon launch.
It took Nintendo a long time just to do what everyone else done many years ago. Incorporating Mobile into the business, now if they could catch up with the modern world a bit faster with NX.
@SegaBlueSky At the end of the day, Grand Theft Auto aside, they have the most powerful IPs in gaming by far.
My read on the Pokemon Go situation is they've been way too, for lack of a better word, introverted since the latter days of the Wii. What I mean is, for years they've been speaking only to hardcore Nintendo fans. But this is a reminder of what Nintendo can be when they start to look outside of their bubble.
I still think Nintendo missed a trick not buying Minecraft. Microsoft is a good fit because they can leverage it in their PC and education initiatives, but as a complement to their handheld/console strategy — I really think Nintendo should have got it.
Alas!
Didn't the PSP have something similar with Invizimals back in 2009? I'm sure it's just another flash in the pan fad similar to Tamagotchi.
@belmont
I was actually thinking about the impact that Pokemon Go will have on the upcoming 3DS entries, then again I can't imagine most parents will like their kids being real life Pokemon trainers (the stories thus far is just unbelievable).
@get2sammyb Yes introverted is about the perfect word to describe them. It's frustrating as a fan as they just haven't appealed to me in quite some time. Pokemon Go is great though, really enjoying it, and it kinda makes me wanna go out and buy a 3DS now.
@stupidget
Like the Wii, this is a simple case of 'been done before, but Nintendo just popularised it'.
@stupidget Hardly. Nintendo as much as we mock them have a serious stable of franchises. The Pokemon games have been around for almost two decades at this stage and still have incredible pulling power. I will admit I'm a huge fan of the serious and I play Go a little bit when I'm out and about. It really is a fantastic idea and I can see it staying longer than a few weeks.
As with the Wii, I dont care about Wii Sports but I like my Mario Galaxies and the main stuff.
This surge proves stock grows even if Pokemon Goers wont buy Wii U and 3ds by the boatload. Awareness and ad revenue is their best bet.
Honestly, I've bought two Pokemon games in the past two weeks because the app has gotten my wife interested - and then watching her play wanted me to play another one
@get2sammyb "that even we've been relegated to writing about it,"
Did tsakui give you a warning? Karma police say "Ha ha".
@sinalefa Nobody is buying a Wii U, it's not about that, it's about buying a NES Mini this holiday ahead of NX next March.
@Kidfried That would be both awesome and terrifying. I'd prefer Uncharted Go - shooting wave after wave of bad guys that no one else can see on the bus. Think of all the people trying to leap across rickety imaginary bridges!
I think everyone is actually missing something here.
This is not a 'Nintendo' game as far as I am aware, it is a Pokemon game of which Nintendo own a 1/3rd stake in. It is not even part of the proposed 5 apps (like that Mii app) they were working on. This is the Pokemon company licensing to a developer based in the US whch was one a subsidiary of Google or something.
However, because Nintendo are associated and were recently struggling, they have been namechecked. The stocks and shares are just speculatory. The monetisation and long term appeal hasn't been set - this is a classic short term bubble. The real test for Nintendo is the NX. They may be able to ride the wave of Pokemon Go into that launch (and more sucess to them) but I would guess not.
I'm having a ton of fun with Go. I've run into so many people playing it and we've all had great chats about it. It really is an incredible game. I'm hooked
Lol just came from nintendolife and saw this same article XD
Problem is im level 7 now and have noooooooo pokeballs left. And it eats my battery.. Or i need to search pokestops which are like 2 of in my Village or buy pokeballs..
Already a couple people injured or died due to pokemon go and driving. I'll pass. It's turning grown adults into idiotic children.
@Rudy_Manchego It's not a Nintendo game but, as @Grawlog said, it doesn't really matter.
Pretty sad considering nintendo really had very little to do with the game aside from owning a small part of it. It's a crash fest too. I play for maybe an hour a day and I have to restart it at least 3 times when it freezes or crashes. Bottom line is my vita and PS4 get used daily, and i can't remember the last time I played a game on wiiu.
@Grawlog @get2sammyb @Sensechat
It is a Nintendo feeling game with a famous Nintendo brand so, everyone thinks Nintendo. I agree with you, for all intents and purposes this is a Nintendo game.
I was thinking more of the financial side of it. The rise in shareprice is speculative based on the media frenzy and zeitgeist nature of the game. Monetization is rumoured at this point and I would question the longevity. If Nintendo shareprices rise but their next quarterly figures of actuals don't match expectation, you can expect a dirge of Nintendo in crisis articles and a potential share sell off. This will then impact the launch of their new apps and NX because people are always wary of buying when the mainstream media are saying a business is in trouble.
In that sense, it is a shame that Nintendo are not the real benefactors of the game rather than a third share because they get postive and negative exposure for something they won't get all the revenue or rights to.
I'm happy for the N but still don't care about the game whatsoever.
Hats off to Ninty. Pokemon Go is decent. It brings all my mates together and we all have one similar tech... smartphones. Plus it's super easy and fun! Haha lunchtimes arent the same anymore!
Give it half a year or so and this will die down. I don't think Nintendo is ambitious or forward-thinking enough to really capitalize on this momentum and keep it going.
I hope I'm wrong, though. Against my better judgment, I still love the Big N and want to see them succeed.
It's on mobile, where hits come fast and go fast. Angry Bird, Flappy Wing, Candy Crush, Clash of Clans,,,
@Ralizah As long as they update the game adding trades, one on one battles, newer Pokémon I think the game will still be popular and alot of people will play. Now if they don't update yeah it won't be too long till people get bored of it.
@whywai88 Except that this is the Pokémon experience everyone has been waiting for especially Pokémon fans. It's as close as we will get to real Pokémon until they somehow figure out a way to genetically make them.
@Tasuki We Pokemon fans has been playing Pokemon games forever. And didn't brought upon sensation like Pokemon Go. Most Pokemon Go user are those bought into the initial hype. After the faze, those who left will be the same people who been playing Pokemon games...
@rjejr @get2sammyb woke up the other day to find a Pikachu head in his bed.
@whywai88 Pokémon made quite a splash when Red and Blue first came out only difference is
1) There internet wasn't as wide spread as it is now so news of the phenomenal didn't get out as much as now.
2) At that time gaming wasnt so widely accepted as it is now,
Not only that but think of Pokémon Go as a gateway. How many fans has it now created that will actually by the Pokémon games now? Heck my friends mom who never plays video games went out and bought a DS from a used game store and bought Fire Red, Leaf Green and Black. Just to get started.
Alot of people think this will be a fad cause it's a mobile game, I honestly think this will be the game that will change people's thoughts on mobile gaming and help make mobile gaming more legit.
I'm finding hard to convince myself right now to stay on my couch and play games. Instead I want to be the very best like no one ever was. Now if I could only get a Pikachu.
@stevie85 20 years + months now.
Wow....
Anyway Pokemon Go is a little rubish in it's current condition, but I understand the hype
@vegeta11 Try electric power substations or other places with high electricity.
I'm not usually big on mobile, but even I'll admit this game was a brilliant idea- the whole thing is just a fun and engaging concept.
Most of my favorite games are Nintendo games (or exclusive like Monster Hunter) but Pokemon is like the one franchise I've never really gotten into. I've played the spinoffs like Pokken Tournament on Wii U and all, and I even own pretty much every Pokemon game to date (be it physical or virtual console) but I've just never sat down and played through any of them.
People keep telling me I need to play Pokemon. Maybe I'll actually play Sun/Moon this November.
I'd be out chasing money but, my foot is infected (no idea how) and I can't walk without hobbling at the moment.
@Riririn With a very popular card game and anime to also prop it up.
It's amazing the amount of buzz Nintendo has created with only TWO games (Zelda and Pokemon). Sony simply doesn't have the IP with that kind of drawing power. They sure can be petty about it, as shown with that Invizimals Twitter post.
To those saying Pokemon GO is a fad... well, duh. Of course it is. What Nintendo and Niantic need to do is keep a loyal, core audience playing and paying once the hype has died down - that's the ultimate test.
@rjejr
Nintendo reached the Vita point with Wii U. Not supporting and not really expecting people to buy it. Still Vita is getting way more games and selling more in Japan than Wii U.
That NES is sweet and I hope it sells so we get more like it. Unlike SNES Remix that never came to be.
@NintendoFan4Lyf said: "I was a older when Pokemon first came around: I was in high school and was definitely in that "It's all cutesy, that is for kids" phase of my life, so I never got into the franchise. All this Pokemon GO talk has actually got me interested in getting a Pokemon title for the 1st time. So, if anything, it might actually help sales for those who are thinking about taking a 2nd look at the franchise."
You just described me. I felt the exact same way about Animal Crossing since it came out when I was in college at the time. Now, these two franchises are starting to pop up on my radar and getting me interested in my mid 30's and I'm not at all embarrassed to admit it.
Pokemon go, what's that? Haha.
How long will Nintendo make 1st party exclusives. I've missed put on Pokémon for years and years because I've no interest and still don't have any interest in buying a Nintendo system. I also have zero interest in mobile games with the exception of pokemon go.
@Splat you're pure evil lol
@Sanquine really socks for some people, I'm luckyou in the city centre. Rural folk must be suffering. Not really fair that some people live right next to stops and gyms, I'm also lucky to have a gym in my office.
Seeing how shallow the game is, I wouldn't be surprised if people started to get tired of it. Not to mention that it needs a lot of work to actually make it functional for longer periods of time and the myriad of other problems it has. I was interested in it, but I quickly realized it was beyond shallow. It, at the very least, got me to go back and play some more Alpha Sapphire, so I suppose that's a good thing.
I'm sure the fanboys over at NL love this though.
It's just a fad. Nintendo gets a couple of good games going from them from time to time. I personally am not interested in pokejunk but I get laughs from all the news of people doing stupid stuff because of it. After this maybe game companies should recognize the power of mobile and release some winning games there instead of just their less popular devices.
@sinalefa Not supporting? Uh, Wii U has a much larger presence in just about every retailer than Vita. Vita is shoved in a corner dead as a doornail. Granted it does have a supporting audience.
I am a gamer at heart but this craze just shows how dumb we've become... it's sad.
Good game, iv'e not played it yet and I doubt I will. But as per though people are taking the game to far, some guy in the UK pulled across 3 lane's of heavy traffic on a motorway near an airport, got out of his car and started walking around the middle of the motorway into oncoming traffic holding his phone in the air, not only risking his own life, other people's life his kid's live's in the BACK of his car but 40ish (can't remember the exact amount) of people missed their flight's because of the hold up he caused, first class tool right there. Great game though
It'll be a nine days wonder and then it'll die out like the Loom Bands craze from the other year.
Impressive. No doubt Sony and Microsoft are currently brainstorming ways they might be able to do something similar. Uphill battle when there's no super popular kid's cartoon to link back to though.
Called it...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36880779
Click for csr racing hack here.
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