TOKYO: Nintendo said on Tuesday its operating profit soared, as it pointed to strong demand for Wii U console games including shoot-em-up hit ‘Splatoon’, but holiday sales fell and the positive impact of a weak yen hit its bottom line. The Japanese videogame giant kept its annual profit forecast in place as it also benefited from upbeat demand for its ‘Amiibo’ figurines, which feature characters from some of its videogames. Nintendo is gearing up for the March release of its first foray into smartphone gaming, after years of refusing to stray from a consoles-only policy. The move is seen as critical to Nintendo’s future amid tough competition from console-maker rivals Sony and Microsoft, and the popularity of online gaming.