Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has told investors that the upcoming Pokemon Winds and Waves titles will be a “crucial release” for the company’s next-generation hardware, which he referred to as Nintendo Switch 2.
Furukawa’s comments underline Nintendo’s reliance on the Pokemon franchise to drive hardware adoption as the series reaches its 30th anniversary.
Background and context
Shuntaro Furukawa stressed that The Pokemon Company handles the franchise’s business development and that Nintendo therefore cannot disclose granular commercial details.
Furukawa reiterated that Pokemon has historically been a major factor in encouraging consumers to buy Nintendo’s dedicated gaming hardware, a trend that spans multiple console generations.
The original Pokemon Red and Green launched in Japan on February 27, 1996, marking the start of a franchise that has become one of the best-selling and most influential in video game history.
The Nintendo Switch launched on March 3, 2017, and Pokemon titles have repeatedly driven interest in Nintendo platforms since.
Rewritten investor remarks
Furukawa told investors he would avoid specific commercial figures because The Pokemon Company manages the franchise’s business operations.
He emphasized that Pokemon games have frequently played a pivotal role in the adoption of Nintendo’s dedicated hardware.
He also noted that, as the Pokemon brand celebrates its 30th anniversary with initiatives across games and trading cards, Nintendo expects Pokemon: Winds / Waves—a new title scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 next year—to be a key launch for the console in its third year on the market.
Furukawa said Nintendo will do everything it can to maximize the game’s sales.
What this means for Nintendo and the industry
Furukawa’s remarks reaffirm the strategic value Nintendo places on flagship third-party and affiliated franchises.
By publicly framing Pokemon Winds and Waves as a cornerstone release for the platform, Nintendo signals continued close cooperation with The Pokemon Company ahead of the franchise’s milestone year.
Developers, retailers, and platform teams will be watching how the release influences hardware momentum and eShop engagement once the titles launch on Nintendo Switch 2.
Furukawa’s comments underline Nintendo’s reliance on the Pokemon franchise to drive hardware adoption as the series reaches its 30th anniversary.
Background and context
Shuntaro Furukawa stressed that The Pokemon Company handles the franchise’s business development and that Nintendo therefore cannot disclose granular commercial details.
Furukawa reiterated that Pokemon has historically been a major factor in encouraging consumers to buy Nintendo’s dedicated gaming hardware, a trend that spans multiple console generations.
The original Pokemon Red and Green launched in Japan on February 27, 1996, marking the start of a franchise that has become one of the best-selling and most influential in video game history.
The Nintendo Switch launched on March 3, 2017, and Pokemon titles have repeatedly driven interest in Nintendo platforms since.
Rewritten investor remarks
Furukawa told investors he would avoid specific commercial figures because The Pokemon Company manages the franchise’s business operations.
He emphasized that Pokemon games have frequently played a pivotal role in the adoption of Nintendo’s dedicated hardware.
He also noted that, as the Pokemon brand celebrates its 30th anniversary with initiatives across games and trading cards, Nintendo expects Pokemon: Winds / Waves—a new title scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 next year—to be a key launch for the console in its third year on the market.
Furukawa said Nintendo will do everything it can to maximize the game’s sales.
What this means for Nintendo and the industry
Furukawa’s remarks reaffirm the strategic value Nintendo places on flagship third-party and affiliated franchises.
By publicly framing Pokemon Winds and Waves as a cornerstone release for the platform, Nintendo signals continued close cooperation with The Pokemon Company ahead of the franchise’s milestone year.
Developers, retailers, and platform teams will be watching how the release influences hardware momentum and eShop engagement once the titles launch on Nintendo Switch 2.
