Nintendo Pokemon Go stock rally stops after Japan launch delay

Reports suggests the companies behind Pokémon Go have cancelled the plan after an email from McDonald’s Japan, detailing the launch, was leaked to internet forums

Nintendo’s fall, only the second decline in nine sessions, still feels small in comparison to the company’s surprise rise (Getty Images)

Nintendo’s ten-day stock rally came to a halt on Wednesday after reports said the launch of the record-breaking game Pokémon Go in Japan, the birth place of Pokémon, had been postponed.

Shares in the Japanese company closed down 12.61 per cent on Tokyo’s stock exchange, its first substantial fall since July 6 – the day Pokémon Go launched in the US, New Zealand and Australia.

The game, currently available in over 30 countries, was supposed to launch in Japan on July 20.

A report from TechCrunch suggests the companies behind Pokémon Go have cancelled the plan after an email from McDonald’s Japan, detailing the launch, was leaked to internet forums.

An initial morning launch time was pushed back to early afternoon as the email went viral, TechCrunch reports, citing sources.

The companies later decided to postpone the launch altogether fearing the hype surrounding the game would overload its servers.

A spokeswoman for the Pokémon company declined to comment on when the game will go live in Japan. Some reports are suggesting it could be as early as Thursday this week.

McDonald’s reportedly teamed up with Nintendo to become the first company to own “sponsored locations” in the game. This means that the fast-food restaurants across Japan could be turned into Pokéstops locations where players can battle against each other or find new Pokémon.

The company told Reuters on Wednesday that it planned to collaborate on the game “soon.” The statement said it will announce details of the collaboration when it is ready.

McDonald’s shares soared as much as 23 per cent on Tuesday their highest level since late 2001. This was the first day of trade since McDonald’s started giving away Pokémon – themed toys with its Happy Meals last Friday.

Nintendo’s fall, only the second decline in nine sessions, still feels small in comparison to the company’s surprise rise. The game company’s shares are still up more than 100 per cent since the app was released on July 6.

Pokémon Go, in which players physically hunt for Pokémon in real life locations, has topped the “most downloaded” charts for both the Android and Apple app stores faster than any other game in history.

But its success has not prevented Pokémon Go, from also raising controversy and security concerns.

Police have issued a warning to fans of Pokémon Go to be careful as they try to “catch em all” and not “Pokémon and drive”.

In Guatemala City, a teenager has been killed in what could be the first death of someone playing the game.