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)
TT

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.



Ministry of Economy and Planning Launches Beta Version of Data Saudi Mobile Application

Ministry of Economy and Planning Launches Beta Version of Data Saudi Mobile Application
TT

Ministry of Economy and Planning Launches Beta Version of Data Saudi Mobile Application

Ministry of Economy and Planning Launches Beta Version of Data Saudi Mobile Application

The Ministry of Economy and Planning launched on Wednesday the beta version of the Data Saudi mobile application, a comprehensive online platform that provides access to key economic and social data about the Kingdom.
According to a ministry statement, the application displays data from "trusted local and global sources, providing users with a better understanding of the economic landscape in Saudi Arabia, by utilizing interactive visualization techniques".
The application facilitates access to data directly on the users’ mobile devices, allowing them to browse all published economic, social, and sectoral data.
The application also enables access to the most important national and regional economic and social indicators, and data about the Kingdom’s international economic interactions with more than 180 countries.
The ministry said it will work on further developing the application in the near future by expanding data coverage to encompass diverse economic sectors. It will also strive to incorporate more advanced and interactive visualization techniques.
Those interested in experiencing the application can download it from the App Store and Google Play.