The Nintendo 3DS has led to a mixture of emotions for many in the industry. With sales just now picking up at a time when Nintendo has been feeling the economic hurt, the company remains vigilant in turning the product into a profitable flagship device.
Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata told investors that the company has been taking “drastic measures” to get the 3DS to a better place in the market, working to create as large an installed base as possible. With big holiday releases and big plans for the handheld alongside the Wii U, Nintendo hopes to “maximize the effect.”
While things are looking down for the company at the present, Iwata reiterated that the publisher and manufacturer expects the device to turn a profit in the near future, thanks to a reduction in manufacturing costs. "In the first half of the next fiscal term, we are now anticipating to get out of the situation that we sell the hardware below cost,” he said.
It is interesting to note that Nintendo has long sold their devices profitably, even at launch. A rough patch from launch to the beginning of the holiday season saw massive sales decline for Nintendo, worrying many investors.
Iwata made sure to affirm that 2012 is looking brighter, with a strong third-party line up and the recently announced Nintendo Network looking to launch relatively soon. The company has made it clear that digital business concerns are paramount for the company.
