Nintendo partners with Tencent to launch its console business in China

Since the collaboration with Tencent, the shares of Japanese gaming giant Nintendo’s shares surged as high as 30% following regulators’ approval to release Nintendo’s Switch and the game “New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe” in China.

Nintendo’s foray into the world’s largest gaming market has been much aniticipated by the investors who think its collaboration with Tencent is a welcome step. However, the collaboration is still in its nascent stage as they need to gain approvals for more regulators in China. Each game needs to be submitted for approval in the country to check content regulation compliance.

But Chinese customers have typically favoured computer and mobile games over consoles. Yet, Nintendo could have a better chance at the gaming market not only because of the portable nature of the Switch but that Microsoft and Sony haven’t built console businesses in China with Xbox and PlayStation. So there is opportunity to explore.

Nintendo is yet to launch any of its mobile games its China, so the partnership with Tencent has significant potential to even surpass its console business.