Over half of Nintendo’s $1bn mobile revenue came from Fire Emblem

Nintendo’s six mobile games have now generated more than $1 billion in combined revenue, with more than half generated by Fire Emblem Heroes.

According to Sensor Tower data, the 2017 iOS and Android RPG has made over $656 million, or 61 percent of Nintendo’s overall mobile revenue.

Despite having been downloaded less than Nintendo’s other mobile games, Fire Emblem Heroes’ gacha monetisation model has proved fruitful, with an average revenue-per-download of $41.

The next two highest-grossing Nintendo titles are Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, which accounted for 12 percent of all user spending, followed by Dragalia Lost at 11 percent.

Surprisingly Nintendo Mario titles have fared worst in terms of mobile spend, with Mario Kart Tour and Super Mario Run contributing overall revenue shares of 8 and 7 percent, and Dr. Mario World less than 1 percent.

Japan accounts for the majority of Nintendo’s player spend at $581 million (or 54 percent), followed by the US with $316 million, or 29 percent. Mario Kart Tour and Super Mario Run spending is said to skew more towards the US.

In terms of downloads, Super Mario Run is the most popular Nintendo mobile game with 244 million downloads, or 54 percent of the company’s 452 million mobile game downloads.

Mario Kart Tour’s 147 million installs represented 32 percent and Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo’s highest-grossing title, accounts for just 4 percent of the total.

Nintendo has recently experimented with new revenue models for its mobile titles, with both Mario Kart Tour and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp launching subscription services.

In 2019 Mario Kart Tour was the most downloaded free-to-play game on the App Store.

The game’s microtransaction mechanics include a gacha-like system for unlocking content, while the Gold Pass subscription service provides access to more unlockable in-game rewards and 200cc races.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told investors in November that Mario Kart Tour earnings were off to a good start.

“In addition to randomised items, we have created opportunities to generate revenue such as the Gold Pass subscription to meet various needs to consumers, allowing them to enjoy the game,” he said.

“By including these mechanics and multiplayer functionality, we want to make it an attractive application that will be enjoyed by consumers in the long-term.”