The latest figures are out for the Wii U and 3DS, and as suspected, Nintendo is at a loss, falling short of the company's projections. In a move to try to stem the losses, Satoru Iwata, global president for Nintendo, will become CEO. Iwata replaces Tatsumi Kimishima.
According to GI.biz, Nintendo managed to sell only 390,000 Wii U consoles around the world in the past three months. 3DS sales figures are considerably more impressive at 31 million total, but still not enough to help bring Nintendo to where the company had hoped.
According to GI, "Sales were ¥635.4 billion ($6.3bn / £4.1bn) compared to targets of ¥670 billion, revised down by the company in January. The company suffered an operating loss of ¥36.4 billion ($364m / £239.5m)."
Losses are nothing to celebrate, but Nintendo did actually manage to turn a profit this year, as opposed to last year where it posted a record loss of ¥43.2 billion ($433m / £284m).
About Iwata's promotion, Nintendo says, "The move will support the company’s unified global strategy, allow streamlined decision making and enhance Nintendo's organizational agility in the current competitive environment. Reggie Fils-Aime will continue in his role as president and COO of NOA, reporting to Iwata."
Nintendo hopes that titles like a new Legend of Zelda, Pikmin, Wii Fit, Super Mario Bros., and others should help invigorate sales for the console, but we'll just have to wait and see.