Nintendo is one of the biggest companies in the gaming world today. The company is the owner of unparalleled successes, such as the entire “Super Mario Bros.” franchise, “The Legend of Zelda” and many other titles.
Therefore, the existence of relations between a company and a country is beneficial for both parties, as there is a stimulus for trade and market turnover, as well as profit for the corporation.
However, some geopolitical contexts may influence the Japanese giant’s sales decisions and relations with certain countries, even if they are major world powers.
This is proven by Nintendo’s current decision to end its activities in Russia, even online, due to the war between the largest country in the world and Ukraine.
Nintendo decides to end online sales in Russia
With Russia increasingly isolating itself on the world stage, Nintendo has announced its decision to completely end the sale of games in the country.
Therefore, online sales will no longer be made, at least not legally, in line with its decision to no longer send shipments to Russia since 2022, when Ukraine was invaded.
Although games already purchased can be re-downloaded, since last Wednesday (31), no sales are authorized, as well as the creation of new accounts. Nintendo explains that the decision is related to the economic prospects for the Russian Federation.
The brand’s website was already no longer accepting users to make transactions in the Russian currency, the ruble. Now, the company has announced that all payment methods, as well as credit card and account information, have been completely erased as a means of protecting users.
More companies leaving the mainland country
Nintendo was not the only industry giant to cease its business with Russia. Sony, for example, another of the world’s largest technology companies and a competitor of the Japanese company, had already stopped operations in the country in March 2022.
In addition, other companies are also ceasing to have ties with the country. Many of them explain that the main factor for this positioning is the international outrage over the Russian government’s decision to invade Ukraine and start a war last year.
It was to be expected that companies of this size would position themselves against the Russians, especially those with business ties to the United States.
