Amiibo Market To Get Better Before It Gets Worse
Yesterday Nintendo held its investors’ meeting in Japan. Since it was a private meeting we don’t know everything about it, but we do know Amiibo sales were discussed, because we have slides.
Nintendo said the uses for Amiibo will be expanded in 2015 — one additional function they will have is to unlock demos of Virtual Console games relating to themselves. Big N also mentioned they are preparing to launch “special one-run editions” of Amiibo. So, like…..as in……the Amiibo they’ve already been making?
They were most likely referring to the Gold and Silver Mario Amiibo in development when they said this. If those have now been specially designated as one-time-only products, and every other Amiibo released to date has not born that specific distinction…..does that mean a reprint of the more scarce Amiibo figures is finally possible?
It indeed does. Iwata said he’s been to eBay and he’s seen the skyrocketing cost of Amiibo. It took him by surprise (because of course it did) and he agrees it’s a problem that needs to be dealt with. Unfortunately, he continued, there are several factors in play including limited rack space, production lot limits, and delivery dates, and it all comes together in a big logjam to make some figures rare. BUT he will be looking at the best-selling Amiibo as well as the ones with the highest sell-through rate (meaning the ones that sell out), and making decisions from there.
Marth is on the top of the sell-through list in America, followed by Villager and Wii Fit Trainer. These were also the earliest short-run figures to be released. Nintendo has already hinted at a second print run for Marth to coincide with Codename: STEAM, which is compatible with the Marth Amiibo.
Big N would be wise to respond to the American market, because according to another chart (the pie pictured above), 63% of all Amiibo sales come from the US. Scalpers, you now have two choices: one is to dump your inventory as quickly as possible before additional figures dilute the value, or hold the line of defense and preorder every single Marth and Villager that see reproduction, retaining control over stock like DeBeers controls diamonds.
I fear that depending on how many are available THIS time, that second option might just happen.