Nintendo sees smartphone games and new console pushing up profit

TOKYO: Japan’s Nintendo Co Ltd expects operating profit to rise 36.9% in the year through March 2017 as the videogame maker plans to release more smartphone games as well as its next-generation game console.

Nintendo estimates operating profit to grow to 45 billion yen (US$404.9mil) from 32.9 billion yen a year prior, when earnings were roughly in line with a forecast announced in February.