It’s curious to see how much a delayed launch in Japan effects Nintendo’s market cap, when the video game juggernaut doesn’t even technically own the game.
Advertisement
Certainly, putting the game back on the burner will frustrate many enthusiasts in Japan who are eagerly awaiting the launch.
Investors are flocking to stocks related to Pokemon, and McDonald’s Japan is one of those benefiting from the boom, said executive officer Mitsushige Akino at Ichiyoshi Asset Management.
Nintendo shares went up 14.4 per cent at ¥31,770 at close, bringing its gains to over 100 per cent since the launch of the game on 6 July.
With Japan being the first Asian country to have the game, it is expected that other Asian countries will follow.
Citing the Nikkei business daily, Tech Crunch reported that the game will be launched in Japan on Thursday.
Nonetheless, on a positive note, the three firms behind the smash game – Nintendo, Niantic, and the Pokemon Company – are confident that if launched right, the game and their servers can handle the undeniably enormous demand that Pokemon Go will generate in Japan. Everything that has the name “Pokémon” on it is hot right now; games, toys, bread (yes, Pokémon food) and even McDonald’s stocks raised after the restaurant started putting Pokémon toys in the happy meal box. Nintendo shares shot up 25% when the game launched – and enjoyed a 50% increase when the game launched on United States soil.
Last Friday John Hanke, chief executive of game developer Niantic, told Reuters they were being extra-cautious in Japan, given the level of expectation and large numbers of players. The delay would likely only push the release of the app for a day or two, however, and it seems the matter of sponsored gyms will allow users the chance to earn some cash from companies like McDonald’s. However, Fasol stated that the market has to be cautious and ask if Nintendo and Sony are comparable since “Pokemon Go’ is now a huge success with tons of potential waiting to be collected”.
Advertisement
User figures for “Pokemon Go” in the USA reached a record high for a smartphone game.
