Forget Consoles — Nintendo’s IP is its True Power-Up
A profitable pair of plumbers
Nintendo’s record Q1 profits driven by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Super Mario Bros. Movie showcase the power of maximizing intellectual property (IP) across mediums.
While many companies focus on building new IPs, Nintendo continues to extract value from decades-old franchises.
Rather than relying solely on core gamers, Nintendo expands its audience by leveraging characters like Mario, Zelda, and Animal Crossing into movies, merchandising, theme parks, and mobile games.
The $1B+ box office of the Super Mario Bros. Movie shows that Nintendo IP resonates far beyond avid gamers.
The high level of audience engagement with The Super Mario Bros. Movie resulted in overall sales of 31.8 billion yen (an increase of 190.1% year-on-year).
— Nintendo Co., Ltd. Three Months Earnings Report
As technology rapidly evolves, brands that connect on an emotional level are best positioned for longevity.
Building affinity through storytelling is key. The Mario and Zelda franchises effectively…
