Nintendo’s commercial momentum shows no signs of slowing, with Nintendo of America Chief Operating Officer Devon Pritchard declaring that the company has only just begun to tap into its current success. Speaking in an interview with Variety, Pritchard pointed to a combination of record-breaking Switch 2 hardware sales and renewed excitement around The Legend of Zelda franchise as evidence that Nintendo is positioned for sustained growth across gaming, film, and beyond.
The comments arrive during what has been an exceptionally strong period for the Kyoto-based publisher. Last year, Nintendo revealed that its Switch 2 had become the fastest-selling video game hardware device in US history, usurping the PS4’s golden record. Earlier this year, the company reported that Switch 2 sales had reached nearly 20m almost one year after release, cementing its status as the second-fastest selling console in US history. Even a hardware price rise has failed to slow Nintendo’s momentum, buoyed by first-party hits such as the runaway successes of games like Pokopia.
A Long-Term Vision for Switch 2
Pritchard framed the company’s current success not as a peak but as an early chapter in a much longer journey. “We’re at the beginning of Nintendo Switch 2,” she said, emphasizing that the console’s potential remains largely untapped. She credited both internal and external developers for contributing to what she described as remarkable shared experiences.
Nintendo of America COO Devon Pritchard
For Pritchard, Nintendo’s ambitions extend well beyond software and hardware sales. She highlighted the company’s growing cultural footprint through its film partnerships as one of the most exciting frontiers ahead.
The Cinematic Expansion
A significant portion of Pritchard’s enthusiasm was directed at Nintendo’s expanding cinematic world, particularly a forthcoming The Legend of Zelda film in partnership with Sony Pictures. “We’re working with Sony Pictures. We are going to have a movie come out in the end of April,” she noted, expressing excitement about reaching both existing fans and new audiences.
The enthusiasm is well-founded given the commercial performance of Nintendo’s previous film venture. Nintendo and Illumination earned $1bn from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, pulling in a third of that total—$372.6m—in the opening weekend alone, according to LINK_9.
While Pritchard acknowledged excitement about upcoming games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, she suggested her attention was drawn more readily to film collaborations. “Those partnerships and touchpoints with companies like Sony and Sony Pictures around how we can bring those experiences more broadly to not only our current players and fans but to new ones,” she said, calling it one of the most exciting developments for the company over the coming years.
The Zelda film, which is just called “The Legend of Zelda”, sans subtitle, was first teased during a dedicated Zelda Direct in early September. Although no official trailer has been released yet, production has made significant progress. The initial shoot wrapped filming in New Zealand after beginning in October 2025.
Building Experiences That Last Generations
When asked how Nintendo intends to stand out in an increasingly crowded media landscape, Pritchard emphasized the company’s distinct philosophy. “There are more channels for content than ever before,” she said, acknowledging that much of the industry competes directly for consumers’ time. But she argued that Nintendo takes a different approach.
“I think what’s unique is that Nintendo is focused instead on building experiences that create relationships that last generations… how do we create those fun experiences? And that becomes the test: is something fun? It sounds simple, of course it’s not.”
Nintendo of America COO Devon Pritchard
The statement comes as the broader gaming industry navigates a difficult period. The combination of an industry crunch, rising hardware prices, and lower consumer spend is having significant consequences for many studios and publishers worldwide.
Nintendo, however, appears to be weathering the storm remarkably well. Whether that resilience endures through ongoing economic pressures remains to be seen, but Pritchard’s confidence suggests the company believes firmly in both its products and its audience as it looks toward an ambitious future spanning games, film, and beyond.
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