Nintendo Hikes Profit Forecast as Switch Battles On 

People look at merchandise on display at a Nintendo store in central Tokyo on November 6, 2023. (AFP)
People look at merchandise on display at a Nintendo store in central Tokyo on November 6, 2023. (AFP)
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Nintendo Hikes Profit Forecast as Switch Battles On 

People look at merchandise on display at a Nintendo store in central Tokyo on November 6, 2023. (AFP)
People look at merchandise on display at a Nintendo store in central Tokyo on November 6, 2023. (AFP)

Nintendo on Tuesday raised its operating profit forecast for the financial year ending March by 11% to 500 billion yen ($3.32 billion) as its aging Switch console continues to attract gamers.

The Kyoto-based gaming firm has extended the lifecycle of the hybrid home/portable device, now in its seventh year in the market, through a series of heavy-hitting games.

Nintendo sold 6.84 million Switch units in the first six months of the financial year, a slight increase on the 6.68 million units it sold in the same period last year.

Critically acclaimed titles this year include "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom", which went on sale in May, and "Super Mario Bros. Wonder" which launched in October.

Nintendo's broad pop culture appeal has also been underscored by the success of a Super Mario Bros. movie.

Nintendo maintained its full-year forecast for the console of 15 million units, which would be a 16.5% decline on a year earlier.

This year has been a stand-out one for the release of new games across the industry, after the pandemic caused widespread disruption to development.

Nintendo's line-up for the critical year-end shopping season will likely also be bolstered by some new additions including "Super Mario RPG", which launches on Nov. 17.



Google Tests Verified Check Marks in Search Results

A logo of Google is seen on the wall during the groundbreaking ceremony for Malaysia's first Google data center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 01 October 2024. (EPA)
A logo of Google is seen on the wall during the groundbreaking ceremony for Malaysia's first Google data center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 01 October 2024. (EPA)
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Google Tests Verified Check Marks in Search Results

A logo of Google is seen on the wall during the groundbreaking ceremony for Malaysia's first Google data center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 01 October 2024. (EPA)
A logo of Google is seen on the wall during the groundbreaking ceremony for Malaysia's first Google data center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 01 October 2024. (EPA)

Alphabet's Google is testing showing check marks next to certain companies on its search results, a company spokesperson said on Friday, in a move aimed at helping users identify verified sources and steer clear of fake websites.

Fraudulent websites impersonating official businesses or services could creep up in online search results, leading users to view false information about the business, deceiving users and potentially harming the brand.

"We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google," the spokesperson said.

Google already uses automated systems to identify pages with "scammy" or fraudulent content and prevent them from showing up in the search results.

The Verge reported the development earlier on Friday, adding that it spotted blue verified checkmarks next to official site links for companies including Microsoft, Meta and Apple on search results.

Only some users were able to see the feature, the Verge said, indicating Google has not rolled out the test widely yet.