Date: February 15th, 2026 4:52 PM
Author: cowgod
https://kabutan.jp/news/marketnews/?b=n202602130553
Nintendo’s cumulative Q3 FY March 2026 results showed revenue up 99% year-on-year to ¥1.9058 trillion, and operating profit up 21% to ¥300.3 billion. Switch 2 unit sales reached 17.37 million, slightly below my expectations but still the fastest adoption pace in history. Nevertheless, the stock price fell sharply the next day.
There are three main reasons:
Uncertainty around DRAM prices
Risk from AI technological innovation
Structural losses in the Japanese market
Switch 2 DRAM is supplied under long-term stable contracts, and President Shuntaro Furukawa commented that production volumes are secure for FY2026. Market reactions may be somewhat excessive, but uncertainty has increased.
Regarding AI innovation, some believe generative AI lowers entry barriers, making game development easier and reducing the significance of major studios. Google (Alphabet, GOOG) demonstrated a “world AI generation system” capable of producing environments resembling The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. This fueled speculation that expensive game development may become unnecessary.
However, Google’s current offering can only create something akin to an interactive animation. It is not a direct competitive threat. While AI may advance rapidly, expertise in game balance and design cannot be easily replaced. And if it can be, Nintendo would likely adopt the technology effectively. A crisis can also be an opportunity.
The third issue is Japan’s profitability structure. Switch 2 is manufactured in Vietnam and costs are largely dollar-denominated. Yen depreciation raises production costs in yen terms. Meanwhile, consoles must be priced affordably to sell. The Japan-only model is priced at ¥49,980 (tax included), a strategic price.
As a result, Switch 2 sold 4.78 million units in under six months in Japan — matching the pace of Nintendo DS, which shipped 9.12 million units in its first year (FY March 2007). But the more it sells, the more hardware losses accumulate; a difficult dilemma.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5835186&forum_id=2Elisa#49672579)