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Arjun Kharpal{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","contentUrl":"https://pdl-iphone-cnbc-com.akamaized.net/7000404738/d590ce50-121b-11f1-9905-f17b4483d942/1771952667302-NINTENDOEP1-YTREADY_SRT_L.mp4","description":"From humble beginnings making playing cards in 19th-century Japan, Nintendo has evolved into one of the world's most influential gaming companies. Powered by a catalogue of iconic characters and franchises — including Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon — the company has turned nostalgia and broad family appeal into a durable business advantage.","duration":"PT9M19S","name":"The business behind Nintendo: How the gaming giant makes billions","thumbnailUrl":"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/108269892-2026_BUILT_FOR_BILLIONS_THUMBNAIL_02_CLEAN.jpg?v=1772031990","uploadDate":"2026-02-25T22:00:01.000Z"}watch nowIn this video
From humble beginnings making playing cards in 19th-century Japan, Nintendo has evolved into one of the world's most influential gaming companies.
Powered by a catalogue of iconic characters and franchises — including Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon — the company has turned nostalgia and broad family appeal into a durable business advantage.
Its "fun over fidelity" ethos has helped it compete with larger rivals, Sony and Microsoft, without producing the most powerful consoles.
This approach, combined with tight control over its hardware, software and intellectual property, has built a business with a market cap of more than $80 billion.
Watch the video above to learn more about how Nintendo makes its billions, while maintaining a strong and steady profit margin.
This is the first installment in the "Built for Billions" three-part series on Nintendo. Don't miss part two, where we explore the gaming company's console evolution, and part three, which looks at its biggest bets beyond games and hardware.
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