THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 10, 2022 at 18:20 JST
Nintendo Co.’s game console Nintendo Switch (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Nintendo Co. announced on March 10 that it has thrown the switch on sending its game console Nintendo Switch, gaming software and other products to Russia, suspending all shipments for the time being.
Nintendo officials decided that it is unable to continue operating in Russia due to logistics disruptions and other difficulties amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a company official said.
Nintendo does not operate its own retail stores within Russia.
The global gaming company is currently not asking sales outlets to stop selling its products remaining in stock and not requesting that they send back the stocked items.
The website service for Russia, where users can buy download version software for Nintendo Switch, among others, has been temporarily suspended since March 4 due to payment transaction operators not dealing in the ruble.
In addition, Nintendo postponed the launch of Advance Wars 1+2:Re-Boot Camp, part of the Nintendo Switch game software, which was to be released in the United States and European countries on April 8.
Nintendo “took into consideration the current global situation” because the game software includes battle scenes involving tanks, a company official said.
On March 10, Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC also announced that it stopped shipments of its game console PlayStation series and gaming software to Russia.
Its online store aimed at Russian customers has also been suspended.
“We wish for peace in Ukraine along with the global community,” a Sony representative said.
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