on Oct 24th 2012 8:00AM 
Nintendo slashed its annual net profit outlook by 70 percent, following first-half losses of approximately $351 million, 40 percent greater than expected. Ahead of the Wii U launch, the Japanese company now expects net profits of ¥6 billion ($75.2 million) for the fiscal year ending March 31 2013, compared to initial forecasts of ¥20 billion ($251 million). In those initial forecasts Nintendo predicted losses of ¥20 billion for the six-month period ending September 30, but today revealed a significantly greater figure of almost ¥28 billion ($351 million). The company cited weaker than expected overseas sales of 3DS hardware and software, along with increased yen appreciation.
Nintendo also revealed the 3DS shifted 5 million units across the six months, taking the console to over 22 million worldwide sales to date. The company now expects 17.5 million sales for the 3DS by the end of the fiscal year, down 1 million from initial projections.
Nintendo of course expects the Wii U to takes figures back into the black in six months time, with the company now predicting 5.5 million units sold worldwide by March 2013.
