Roger Fingas
Nintendo's first smartphone-only app, Miitomo, will launch sometime next month for iOS and Android, with a pre-registration process beginning on Feb. 17, the Japanese game maker announced on Wednesday.
Starting that day people will be able to register for a new Nintendo Account service using email, a social network account, or an existing Nintendo Network ID. Doing so will earn early notification of Miitomo's availability, as well as a special unspecified bonus.
Rather than a true game, Miitomo — first teased in October — will actually be a "social experience" based on the Mii avatars featured on Nintendo devices. Users will be prompted to learn more about each other by asking and answering questions. The app should also support sharing photos of Miis, and connecting with a My Nintendo rewards program launching at the same time.
Nintendo is planning to launch five smartphone apps by the end of March 2017. The second of these is still mostly in the shadows, but shouldn't be communications app, and will feature a familiar (though still undisclosed) character.
Nintendo's new mobile efforts are the result of a partnership with developer DeNA, struck in March 2015. The company has been forced to adapt to a rapidly evolving gaming world, as its Wii U console has struggled in sales, and handhelds like the 3DS are being supplanted by phones and tablets for many people. Indeed rumors suggest the company's next console, commonly referred to as the NX, will try to bridge the gap between the mobile and console environments.
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16 Comments
Meh. I want Donkey Kong!
Way to call it in, Nintendo.
This is great! It's like just as smartphones are coming out Nintendo is jumping on a brand new business sector. Oh wait, that was 2007 and it DID NOT happen. WTF is wrong with Nintendo over that last decade?
Stupid move for Nintendo, sorry.
They are innovative as f*** and follow no one. They need to improve their 3DS and make it marketable, not wave the white flag to iPhone and iPhoneys. Or Apple should just buy them.
Imagine if Apple investing in a quality game using its main franchises, and threw it up on the appstore to be played with a controller on an Apple TV, iPad, or iPhone. They'd make a killing. I agree about Apple buying Nintendo. Apple has the massive hardware userbase, which is now powerful enough to handle great looking games. All Apple needs to do is come out with a controller, and design the software. They need to get out of the hardware biz. It would rid Apple of a massive burden, R&D costs, etc, while expanding their userbase by 100 fold. Everyone with an iOS device will become a potential Nintendo customer, and Apple will instantly make massive inroads into the (family friendly) gaming space. The fit couldn't be more perfect.