Pokémon effect: Nintendo shares bounce back on the stock market

fter months of difficulties, Nintendo is once again gaining momentum in the markets. Shares of the Japanese company rose by as much as 10.5%, the sharpest increase in nearly a year, supported by the surprising commercial success of Pokémon Pokopia, the latest major exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The game - a spin-off of the famous Pokémon saga with life-simulation mechanics similar to Animal Crossing - has quickly captured a global audience. Within a few days, physical copies sold out at several major retailers in the United States and other key markets, while digital sales charts in the United Kingdom and the United States have consistently placed it among the top titles.

According to analyst Atul Goyal of the investment bank Jefferies, the new game is becoming a genuine viral phenomenon, helping to strengthen the commercial momentum of the Switch 2. The success also represents a positive surprise for investors. “It was completely off the market’s radar,” noted Hideki Yasuda, senior analyst at Toyo Securities, highlighting how the title’s popularity is supporting sentiment toward the group.

The rebound comes at a delicate moment for Nintendo. Since the end of 2025, the company’s stock had been weighed down by concerns over rising prices for memory and semiconductors, driven by the growing global demand for chips used in artificial intelligence. The increase in costs had raised fears of potential margin pressure for hardware and video game manufacturers.

Despite the rally in recent hours, Nintendo’s shares remain about 30% below the peak reached in November 2025, a sign that the market is still taking a cautious approach to the group’s prospects. However, the strong commercial start of Pokopia suggests that the new generation of consoles could continue to fuel the company’s growth cycle.

For the Kyoto-based company, once again, the strength of its historic franchises proves to be a decisive asset: even an unexpected project can quickly turn into a driver capable of influencing not only the video game market, but also the company’s stock market performance.

Andrea Pelucchi