VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS & COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES ★
PRICE: 0 CENTS
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
7974.JP · Tokyo Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
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Overview
Nintendo's core is an integrated dedicated gaming platform (Nintendo Switch hardware + first-party software + digital content + online services), which represented about 90% of net sales in FY ended 2025-03-31. Moats are driven by iconic first-party IP and brand trust, ecosystem complements from an integrated hardware/software approach plus developer support, and moderate switching frictions via Nintendo Accounts intended to span platform generations. A secondary engine is mobile and IP-related income (royalties/licensing), extending Nintendo characters into visual content, theme parks, mobile apps and merchandise. Key risks are platform-cycle volatility, hit dependence, competitive pressure from Sony/Microsoft ecosystems, and shifting consumer time to PC/mobile/cloud.
Primary segment
Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem
Market structure
Oligopoly
Market share
—
HHI: —
Coverage
3 segments · 5 tags
Updated 2026-01-01
Segments
Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem
Dedicated console gaming platform ecosystem (hardware + software + digital storefront + online services)
Revenue
90.2%
Structure
Oligopoly
Pricing
moderate
Share
—
Peers
Mobile and IP-related income
Entertainment IP licensing + mobile game monetization (royalties, smart-device content, visual content)
Revenue
5.8%
Structure
Competitive
Pricing
moderate
Share
—
Peers
Other products and legacy platforms
Character merchandise, playing cards, amiibo, and residual legacy platform revenue
Revenue
4%
Structure
Competitive
Pricing
weak
Share
—
Peers
Moat Claims
Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem
Dedicated console gaming platform ecosystem (hardware + software + digital storefront + online services)
Revenue share derived from FY ended 2025-03-31 net sales by product/service breakdown (Nintendo Switch platform JPY 1,050,296m of total JPY 1,164,922m). Source: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2025/annual2503e.pdf (see revenue recognition breakdown/footnotes defining Nintendo Switch platform contents).
Ecosystem Complements
Network
Ecosystem Complements
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
Nintendo runs an integrated hardware+software platform and supports external developers, reinforcing a complements ecosystem around its console.
Erosion risks
- Platform transition risk (new hardware cycle)
- Third-party content supply shifts to rival platforms
- Consumer time shifts to PC/mobile/cloud gaming
Leading indicators
- Installed base growth
- Software attach rate
- Share of software sales that are digital
Counterarguments
- Sony and Microsoft have strong competing ecosystems with larger online/social networks
- Portable gaming substitutes (smartphones/PC handhelds) reduce the need for a dedicated console
Switching Costs General
Demand
Switching Costs General
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
Nintendo Account links purchases and services to a persistent identity, aiming to carry relationships across platform generations.
Erosion risks
- If next-gen platform does not fully carry over digital entitlements
- Consumers increasingly expect cross-platform purchases and interoperability
- Account security incidents reduce trust
Leading indicators
- Active Nintendo Accounts
- Retention/upgrade rate at major hardware transitions
- Digital library size per active user
Counterarguments
- Console accounts are industry standard; switching costs are weaker than in enterprise software
- Hit-driven content can override switching frictions
Brand Trust
Demand
Brand Trust
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
Nintendo's family-friendly brand and long-lived franchises create trust and habitual demand for first-party releases and hardware.
Erosion risks
- Brand dilution from over-release or lower-quality titles
- Reputation damage from hardware quality or online safety issues
- Demographic shifts away from Nintendo's core positioning
Leading indicators
- First-party title sell-through longevity
- Review score distribution for major releases
- Repeat purchase/engagement across flagship franchises
Counterarguments
- Demand is cyclical and dependent on a steady pipeline of hit games
- Rivals also own powerful IP and can bid for consumer attention
IP Choke Point
Legal
IP Choke Point
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
Ownership of core franchises supports exclusivity (first-party titles) and differentiation, but value depends on continued creative output and enforceability.
Erosion risks
- Difficulty enforcing IP rights in all regions
- IP fatigue if franchises are overused
- Competitors' exclusive content reduces relative differentiation
Leading indicators
- Share of software revenue from first-party titles
- New IP creation cadence and adoption
- Licensing infringement actions / enforcement outcomes
Counterarguments
- Sony/Microsoft and major publishers also have exclusive titles and strong IP portfolios
- IP ownership alone does not guarantee platform success without strong execution
Mobile and IP-related income
Entertainment IP licensing + mobile game monetization (royalties, smart-device content, visual content)
Revenue share derived from FY ended 2025-03-31 net sales breakdown (Mobile and IP related income JPY 67,673m of total JPY 1,164,922m). Source: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2025/annual2503e.pdf.
Content Rights Currency
Legal
Content Rights Currency
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
Nintendo can monetize iconic characters through licensing/royalties and cross-media projects, expanding touchpoints beyond consoles.
Erosion risks
- Partner dependence (film/theme park execution and revenue share terms)
- Overexposure / IP fatigue
- Regulatory or platform policy changes impacting mobile monetization
Leading indicators
- Royalty/licensing revenue trend
- New cross-media releases and performance
- Active users and monetization of smart-device content
Counterarguments
- Cross-media wins are lumpy and may not repeat without major hits
- Other entertainment IP owners compete aggressively for distribution and consumer attention
Brand Trust
Demand
Brand Trust
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
The brand reduces customer acquisition costs for new media/merch initiatives and increases partner willingness to collaborate on premium IP.
Erosion risks
- Quality failures in licensed products harm brand perception
- Misalignment between brand values and partner content
Leading indicators
- Licensed product review sentiment
- Repeat partner collaborations
- Brand survey/NPS trends (where available)
Counterarguments
- Licensing markets can be competitive with limited long-term exclusivity
- Some monetization is capped by Nintendo's own brand protection choices
Other products and legacy platforms
Character merchandise, playing cards, amiibo, and residual legacy platform revenue
Revenue share is computed as (Dedicated video game platforms 'the others' JPY 33,238m + Other JPY 13,714m) divided by total JPY 1,164,922m for FY ended 2025-03-31. Source: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2025/annual2503e.pdf.
Brand Trust
Demand
Brand Trust
Strength
Durability
Confidence
Evidence
Nintendo's brand and characters can support sell-through of physical merchandise and legacy product lines, but the category is small and competitive.
Erosion risks
- Commoditization in toys/collectibles
- Retail shelf-space pressure
- Counterfeit products
Leading indicators
- Merchandise revenue trend
- Official store expansion and sales productivity
- Piracy/counterfeit enforcement actions
Counterarguments
- Consumer merchandise markets have low switching costs and many substitutes
- Results can be highly seasonal and tied to major game/media releases
Evidence
...dedicated video game platform business - integrating both hardware and software - at the center of everything we do.
Primary-source statement of integrated platform strategy (hardware+software), supporting ecosystem complements.
On Nintendo Developer Portal... we offer ongoing support for both development companies and individual developers...
Supports the idea that Nintendo actively invests in developer enablement, strengthening complements supply.
Nintendo Account... spans platform generations and unites a variety of entertainment experiences.
Supports account-based continuity as a switching-cost mechanism across device generations.
Nintendo's characters have been nurtured by generations... create many touchpoints... deepen fondness.
Primary-source framing of multi-generational character equity and brand-building intent.
Nintendo has continued to accumulate various intellectual properties... enable the differentiation of its offerings...
Supports the claim that accumulated IP is a key differentiator (a legal moat), while acknowledging it requires active management.
Showing 5 of 10 sources.
Risks & Indicators
Erosion risks
- Platform transition risk (new hardware cycle)
- Third-party content supply shifts to rival platforms
- Consumer time shifts to PC/mobile/cloud gaming
- Regulatory pressure on digital storefront practices
- If next-gen platform does not fully carry over digital entitlements
- Consumers increasingly expect cross-platform purchases and interoperability
Leading indicators
- Installed base growth
- Software attach rate
- Share of software sales that are digital
- Nintendo Switch Online subscriber trend
- Third-party release cadence and breadth
- Active Nintendo Accounts
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
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