Agencies vie for Nintendo PR Pitches

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 27, 2012 - Japanese gaming giant Nintendo is reviewing its comms ahead of the launch of the Wii U – one of the biggest console launches of the decade – a launch intended to turn around the company’s fortunes having just last year recorded their first annual loss in 50 years.

Nintendo has removed its retained UK PR agency and are putting their entire consumer PR (http://www.beattiegroup.com/prservices/consumer-pr.aspx) and financial PR (http://www.beattiegroup.com/prservices/financial-pr.aspx) businesses to tender, causing a scramble amongst several PR agencies .

The incumbent for the account has decided against re-pitching.

News of the review and pitch process was confirmed by Nintendo, who said “The year 2012 is a big one for Nintendo and with this in mind we are currently reviewing our PR agency. The first round of this process has already been completed.”

‘The challenge for the chosen agency will be keeping the existing Wii platform commercially viable as well as evoking excitement and anticipation in consumers and the industry for the Wii U launch.’

The account is believed to be worth around £350k in fees with additional funds for launches, events and programmes.

It is thought that pitches will be made in the end of August, following a shortlist of agencies being drawn up, although the process is currently in its early stages covering chemistry meetings with a number of pr and marketing companies.

The Wii U is set to be the first of a new generation of consoles, and will launch well in advance of rival systems from Sony and Microsoft.