In a recent Q&A session between the Nintendo CEO, Tatsumi Kimishima, and investors, the Nintendo NX won’t be sold at a loss.
While the Wii U was able to be sold at a loss, Kimishima stated, current scenarios cause Nintendo to sell the new console at a profit.
“We are not thinking of launching the hardware at a loss,” he said. “When Wii U was launched, the [Japanese] yen was very strong. I am assuming that situation will not repeat itself. Selling at a loss at launch would not support the business, so we are keeping that mind in developing NX.”
Despite the heightened potential for sales during the holiday shopping season, Kimishima stated that to rush a 2016 release would be a mistake in the long term.
“The fact that consumers spend more money in the holiday season may be a big factor in why launching then is a good way to start. However, our hardware and software business structure does not end in that year. We want consumers to continue to play this game system for many years, so we believe that in the beginning it is most important to make sure that everything is in order at launch. In that sense, our approach is that we should wait until we can provide a fully realized experience rather than rushing to launch in the holiday season, and this approach has not changed.”