Thunderful continues distribution of Nintendo merchandise

2024 has been a mixture of good and unhealthy information for Thunderful Group, with the excellent news first: Bergsala, part of the group, will likely be Nintendo’s distributor for the Baltic area for one more 2 years. The arraignment between the 2 goes again to 1981, and with this newest extension, nothing has modified between the 2 corporations.

Thunderful Group depends on the revenue from distributing Nintendo merchandise, which is, sadly, the place the unhealthy information is available in. With declining Nintendo Change gross sales and a softening of the market, Thunderful Group posted a lack of $59.2 million for 2023. That is in stark distinction to the $11.8 million reported for the prior 12 months.

The sudden downturn resulted within the announcement that 20% of Thunderful’s workers could be laid off. Regardless of the discount in income, CEO Martin Walfsiz said that they’re “wanting ahead to the launch of Nintendo’s new console.”

As well as, Walfsiz praised the power of the partnership between the 2 corporations, “Thunderful’s distinctive relationship with Nintendo stretches again to the early Nineteen Eighties when our subsidiary Bergsala began distributing Nintendo’s improbable merchandise to shoppers throughout the Nordics and the Baltics. We’re exceedingly happy with this long-lasting partnership and sit up for a few years of continued shut collaboration with Nintendo.”

Thunderful Group not less than ended 2023 on a excessive be aware, with the video games division posting document numbers in Q3 2023 on the again of Steamworld Construct, the newest within the long-running Steamworld franchise. Whereas a hit, gross sales failed to satisfy the corporate’s expectations, with Walfsiz laying blame on the toes of the developer, The Station, for, once more, swapping genres and probably alienating earlier followers.

By reducing prices heading into 2024 and sustaining the Nintendo distribution deal by means of the launch of the following Change console, Thunderful Group has set itself up for fulfillment.