Nintendo reports drop in sales and profit

Nintendo has reported a year-over-year drop in both sales and profit for the nine month period ending December 2015. 

The company's latest financials show that net sales have dipped by 3.9 percent, falling from 442.9 billion yen ($3.67 billion) to 425.6 billion yen ($3.53 billion). 

Profits dropped from 59.5 billion yen ($493.9 million) in December 2014 to 40.5 billion yen ($336.2 million) in December 2015 - a decrease of 31.9 percent. 

Operating income, on the other hand, rose by 34.4 percent, jumping from 31.6 billion yen ($262.3 million) to 42.5 billion yen ($352.8 million).

Looking at software sales, Splatoon was Nintendo's best selling title over the past nine months, selling 4.06 million units worldwide. Super Mario Maker was another big-hitter, shifting 3.34 million units.

On 3DS, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer hit 2.93 million in worldwide sales, while Nintendo's Pokemon lineup is also reportedly showing "steady" progress in the overseas markets. 

Turning to hardware, the Wii U sold 3.06 million units and 3DS hardware sales reached 5.88 million over that same nine month period. Lifetime Wii U and 3DS sales now stand at 12.6 million and 57.9 million respectively.

With the re-release of the original Pokémon series on the horizon, and the introduction of other new titles such as Twilight Princess HD and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the pipeline, Nintendo believes it's still on track to meet its consolidated financial forecast. 

As such, the company expects to see net sales and profits of 570 billion yen ($4.73 billion) and 35 billion yen ($290.5 million) by the end of this financial year on March 31, 2016.