Note:
Anyone in this thread claiming specific numbers for retailler cuts or console maker cuts (outside of specific, cited examples) is BSing you. They don't know exactly what Best Buy or Nintendo are making per game sold. They are NOT making a simple, across-the-board rate.
It seems that the cuts are generally around 20% for the console maker, and a little less for the retailler. However, for a huge game that the publisher wants to sell a lot of, they may give the retailler a bigger cut so they'll stock more. On the other hand, the console maker may give the publisher a better deal if they think the game can move hardware.
"[Our former customers] are unable to find software which they WANT to play."
"The way to solve this problem lies in how to communicate what kind of games [they CAN play]."
Satoru Iwata, Nintendo President. Only slightly paraphrased.
