Ahmed Sherif
Research expert covering IT services and gaming hardware
Nintendo - statistics & facts
With its family-friendly appeal and a steady stream of popular titles centered around the company’s intellectual property, such as Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon, Nintendo has a rich history that reflects its adaptability and innovation. Founded in Kyoto, Japan as a small Japanese firm producing handmade playing cards, the company has evolved into one of the largest video game manufacturing companies worldwide. Over the decades, the multinational consumer electronics has transformed into a global leader in the game console industry as well, renowned for its innovative gaming consoles and beloved franchises.
With the Switch successor console on the horizon, Nintendo’s market position appears to be strategically poised for both continuity and growth.
Nintendo’s revenue decline continues as headcount grows
In 2024, Nintendo’s revenue reported slightly over 11 billion U.S. dollars as the Nintendo Switch entered its eighth year on the market, continuing a declining trend since 2021 when the company generated nearly 16 billion U.S. dollars. Similarly, Nintendo saw fewer profit for the same period, reporting three billion U.S. dollars in net income in 2024. Nonetheless, the company has been consistently increasing its headcount since 2016, with the number of employees standing over eight thousand employees worldwide as the firm moves into new business growth areas, such as films. Operating as a single business segment, Nintendo’s operations offer a diverse array of products such as video game platforms, mobile, and playing cards. However, the Switch platform alone accounted for over 90 percent of the company’s sales in 2024, highlighting its significant impact on the company's financial success.Switch generates record sales
Nintendo’s latest home console, the Nintendo Switch, was launched in 2017 and has sold over 143 million units throughout its lifetime. The Switch stands out among its competitors as the only major console that seamlessly combines the functionality of a traditional gaming system with the versatility of a handheld device. This reflects Nintendo’s rich heritage in handheld gaming, building on the success of the Game Boy and DS series, which have left a lasting impact on the gaming landscape. Moreover, Nintendo has long been a cornerstone of the gaming industry, captivating audiences with its innovative gameplay and iconic characters. Popular Nintendo games such as Pokémon and the Super Mario series were best-selling video game franchises globally.Nintendo competitors catching up
Since its release in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has consistently been one of the best-selling current-generation consoles globally each year up to 2022. This includes notably more lifetime and annual sales compared to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, which were both released in 2020. Three of the top-five best-selling consoles of all time are Nintendo products, with the Nintendo Switch ranking as the third best-selling console globally.With the Switch successor console on the horizon, Nintendo’s market position appears to be strategically poised for both continuity and growth.
