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Nintendo’s Fire Emblem Heroes brings in over $417m in revenue

The tactical RPG has made up 78 per cent of Nintendo’s mobile revenue since launch in February 2017

Nintendo’s Fire Emblem Heroes brings in over $417m in revenue

Nintendo’s tactical RPG Fire Emblem Heroes has brought in over $417 million since its February 2017 launch.

According to Sensor Tower, the figure made up 78 per cent of Nintendo’s total mobile sales since its release 18 months ago.

Developed by Intelligent Systems with aid from DENA and Nintendo, Fire Emblem Heroes enjoyed a profitable first year with $300 million made and has enjoyed steady success since.

This summer alone the RPG made over $60 million in revenues, a 34 per cent year-on-year increase from the July to August period the year prior.

Moreover, $47 million of that was made through the game's ‘gacha’ mechanic.

Regarding regional popularity, Japanese players spent the most this summer with $36 million spent, which is 57 per cent of the total.

It’s good, but . . .

Despite Fire Emblem Heroes' success, Nintendo may not press ahead with its free-to-play and IAP model.

That’s according to Nintendo creative fellow Shigeru Miyamoto, who explained that the games developer would favour a fixed price model for its mobile games, despite a lack of success so far with Super Mario Run - at least on a scale a company like Nintendo might expect.

Speaking at the Computer Entertainment Developers Conference in Yokohama Japan, Miyamoto explained that the industry needs to turn away from the free-to-play business model and offer titles at fixed prices.

"I can’t say that our fixed-cost model has really been a success," Said Miyamoto.

"But we’re going to continue pushing it forward until it becomes entrenched. That way everyone can develop games in a comfortable environment."


Staff Writer

Iain is a freelance writer based in Scotland with a penchant for indies and all things Nintendo. Alongside PocketGamer.Biz, he has also appeared in Kotaku, Rock Paper Shotgun, PCGamesN and VG24/7.