Nintendo hit by 'delayed' Pokémon GO Japan launch

Nintendo’s stellar run on Pokémon Go mania stalled today, as shares in the tech giant plunged more than 12% due to a delay to the game’s arrival in Japan.

Its shares fell to 27,765 yen (£199.46) from 31,770 yen after a report claimed a planned launch today in Japan, one of the world’s biggest gaming markets, had been put on ice.

Developer Niantic was reportedly concerned the hype would overwhelm its servers.

Even with today’s retreat, Nintendo shares have soared 92% since Pokémon Go’s launch on July 6, inflating the company’s value by around £13 billion.

McDonald’s Japanese business’s shares, listed in Tokyo, shot up almost 10% to 3515 yen as it was named as the game’s first sponsor in the media.