Nintendo has started selling download codes for games on Amazon Japan.
☆ NintendObs Event – Nintendo Q2 FY3/2015.
In the dedicated video game platform business, the usage rate of digital channels to sell software has been increasing. Here, I would like to tell you about a few approaches Nintendo has been undertaking.
From this summer, we commenced public transport e-money payments, starting with JR East’s “Suica,” on Wii U.
By the introduction of this function, the barrier to make small payments has been lowered, and more consumers who had never purchased products digitally before are trying them. In other words, with the increase in the number of Wii U hardware, which has cleared the barrier for digital purchases, introduction of the Suica payment function has played a role in “lowering the payment barrier,” which is an important issue in the digital business.
In addition, one clear example of the increase in the usage rate for payments under 500 yen is the 24-hour karaoke ticket.
We are considering making Suica payments available also on New Nintendo 3DS. If this is made possible, since there is an abundance of under-500-yen digital content for Nintendo 3DS, we are expecting new possibilities and opportunities.
Also, we are continuing our approach on “the expansion of the area of contact with consumers” in the digital business.
As to the Japanese market, we are continuing our proactive approach on the expansion of digital distribution channels. Among convenience store chains, we have started selling POSA download cards at Lawson and Seven-Eleven. As for online shopping, we have started selling download codes on Amazon.
As a result, regarding the download version of “Super Smash Bros. for 3DS,” the rate of sales through retailers has gone higher than any other game that Nintendo has released. We feel positive that the expansion of distribution channels will lead to the expansion of market size.
— Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo
Source: Nintendo JP.
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