Nintendo might build hardware controllers for iPhone and iPad

After launching its first iOS app, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo is looking to further diversify beyond consoles and first-party handhelds with a potential move into mobile hardware, specifically a controller add-on for smartphones and tablets.

Nintendo's general manager of entertainment planning and development, Shinya Takahashi, during an annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday hinted that a mobile accessory product might be in the offing as the company explores new business models, reports Polygon.

"Physical controllers for smart device applications are available in the market and it is possible that we may also develop something new by ourselves," Takahashi said. "I believe Nintendo's way of thinking is to look at whether action games are really not impossible (without a physical controller for smart device applications) to create and how we can make it happen to create such a game."

The initiative is one of many experimental projects underway at Nintendo. Following decades of success built around a largely closed ecosystem of consoles and handheld gaming platforms, the company is looking to pivot toward the booming mobile device market. As part of the shift, Nintendo last year announced plans to develop original smartphone games through a partnership with app maker DeNA.

Miitomo was the first of Nintendo's exploratory mobile apps to land on iOS, with a launch in Japan followed by U.S. release in March. Dubbed a "social experience" game, the app is best described as a hybrid messaging platform with hooks into Facebook and Twitter. Nintendo plans to add popular franchises Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing to its stable of apps this fall.

Exactly what type of controller Nintendo looks to build is unclear, though the company will face stiff competition from accessory makers like Gamevice and Steel Series, whose Nimbus controller is AppleInsider's top pick for Apple TV and iPad.

14 Comments

sergioz 338 comments · 12 Years

About 8 years ago

About damn time Nintendo!

lolliver 497 comments · 10 Years

Well unless they release some of their bigger franchises on mobile platforms I'm not sure how desirable a Nintendo game controller would be. If they made games like Zelda and Mario available on mobile but required that you purchase a Nintendo branded controller to get the full experience I could see it having success. And I can see them potentially doing something like that to protect their traditionally closed ecosystem.

Personally though I would just love to be able to purchase some of my favourite classic NES games from the App store and play them in the same way I can for titles from Sega.

braderunner 53 comments · 10 Years

I love these kind of stories. They might. But, then...they might not.

thewhitefalcon 4444 comments · 10 Years

I love Apple fans going after Nintendo for a closed ecosystem. The hypocracy is hilarious.

thewhitefalcon said:

I love Apple fans going after Nintendo for a closed ecosystem. The hypocracy is hilarious.

Are you implying I was going after them for their closed ecosystem? I speculated on what they might do to protect it but never complained about the fact they are protecting their ecosystem.
Do I think it would be great it they just released their games for iOS in the way Sega has?: Sure. But Sega no longer manufacture their own consoles so releasing mobile games is a great way for them to continue to make an income from their IP without risk to an associated hardware business.
Do I think it's the right choice for Nintendo to make?: That's up to Nintendo to decide. It would have positives and negatives. If they started releasing games from franchises like Mario and Zelda though it would be a hard sell to convince consumers to purchase handheld game devicess and maybe even make the next Nintendo console far less desirable, especially if their iOS titles were playable on the AppleTV.
So even though I highly doubt Nintendo will be releasing any of their big name franchises for iOS anytime soon (and I don't blame them if they choose not to) it doesn't mean I wouldn't like them to as I would be more than willing to purchase them.