Cube successor planned for E3 2005 as profits slide

News - Nintendo reveal plans...

Despite the fact that E3 2004 has only just concluded - and Nintendo are now busy preparing the ground for the launch of their new handheld the DS later this year -word from Japan today informs us that the company are already planning to showcase their new console (successor to the GameCube) at next year's E3 expo. "[We] plan to unveil the next-generation console succeeding the GameCube at next year's E3 during the spring," Ninty's Managing Director Yoshihiro Mori told reporters at a press conference in Osaka.

Refocusing on the more pressing DS debut, Mori also revealed the company's sales targets for the new and daring device, with sales of 3.5 million units hoped for before March 31st, 2005. Sales of fifteen million software units by the same deadline are also expected - of course, all this does assume that the chronic shortage of LCD screens at the moment can be overcome in time to shift enough units of the device in time for launch.

Meanwhile, Nintendo also conceded that profits for the financial year 2004 had halved on 2003's, falling more than 50% to $297 million (33.2 billion yen). The weakness of the dollar, in the main, and the vagaries of foreign exchange markets were blamed for the decrease, as sales actually rose year-on-year. By contrast, a profit of $620 million is expected for the financial year 2005.

Predictably, the GBA and its SP sibling were the firm's biggest cash-cows, whilst console sales continued to under whelm by comparison. More on big 'N' as we get it.