Nintendo as a whole is facing some struggles right now, with its Wii U console failing to sell well since its launch in 2012. Sony and Microsoft's new consoles have flown past their less powerful counterpart in terms of sales in less than half the time on the market, and Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata is the man who could be on the hot seat for the game company's troubles.
Japanese publication Nikkei posted a report that claims shareholders are getting restless as the company struggles to find new ways to make a profit, and Iwata's approval rating has been dropping for three straight years. What started at a 92.9 rating in 2011 has since dropped to 77.3, and he may not get that much more time to turn things around.
Nintendo President Sartoru Iwata Halves Salary
As last year went on and patterns didn't change, Iwata was forced to alter the company's financial forecasts, saying Nintendo expects a net loss of 25 billion yen instead of a net profit of 55 billion yen. Going by the rate of sales and planned software releases, the president also had to drop the Wii U sales forecast for the fiscal year from 9 million to 2.8 million.
Investors are getting fed up with the current situation, according to the report, and are pressuring Iwata and the other executives to make better use of Nintendo's characters and properties. Suggestions range from licensing their well-known characters to the idea that Nintendo develop smart phone games themselves to increase profits, but Nintendo remains resistant to change. Iwata likely bought himself a future in the job with the huge success of the original Wii console and the DS, but it remains to be seen how long that effect will last.
Source: IGN
