Opinion: Nintendo’s ‘Animals’ may be a Covid-19 Netflix moment

A file photo showing dolls of Nintendo game characters Isabelle (centre), known as Shizue in Japan, and Tom Nook (right), known in Japan as Tanukichi, from the 'Animal Crossing' series of video games as they are displayed at a new Nintendo store in Tokyo. Animal Crossing is helping Nintendo push software sales and sell out of its Switch hardware console. The game itself sold 11.8 million units, the second-highest quarterly figure behind Pokemon Sword/Shield, which was released in the pre-Christmas peak. — AFP

Nintendo Co is getting a boost from the Covid-19 lockdown thanks to its smash-hit new game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. But the unexpected boon of a captive audience differs markedly from the one being enjoyed by Netflix Inc, and the Japanese company’s success needs examining for how well it can keep gamers addicted.

Animal Crossing is helping Nintendo push software sales and sell out of its Switch hardware console. The game itself sold 11.8 million units, the second-highest quarterly figure behind Pokemon Sword/Shield, which was released in the pre-Christmas peak. That helped the company ship 3.3 million units of the Switch, closing out the fiscal year to March with sales of 21 million, ahead of its own 19.5 million forecast. Yet the longer-term value may be in keeping the handheld games machine relevant. That’s not so clear.