Nintendo To Cut Back On Mobile Games After Animal Crossing Success, Says Report

Thanks god. The world does not need mobile gaming.

I just don't get mobile gaming at all. Maybe I haven't found the right game. This makes perfect sense for Nintendo.

I'm not against mobile gaming but happy to see Nintendo focus on console gaming. It is a shame that Dragalia Lost has flopped though, as I think it is wildly enjoyable.

Assuming this is true, I would be lying if I said this news didn't put a big goofy smile on my face.

Would personally see them do both, but use the mobiel games to attract new players to the switch. Also give players an reason to use both as besides fe I don't really see an lot of cross promotion

What is the situation with Pokemon mobile? ...oooo

at least we won`t receive another trashy port of a famous game...

While I don’t have anything in particular against mobile games as a concept, it’s certainly the area where more dubious money making models are rife, something even Nintendo proved it wasn’t above after giving up on the more traditional sale model of Super Mario Run.

With some exceptions, Nintendo’s mobile offerings have been watered down experiences at best, and money-fleecers at worse.

On the other hand, I feel I generally know what I’m getting when I put down my money on a Nintendo console game, and I generally know how much money I expect to be putting down over the course of that game’s life. Which I much prefer.

Nintendo is certainly a large company, but it’s not enormous, so I’m hopeful these resources will be employed where the better games are.

Their resources and talent are better spent on console releases in my opinion. There’s such mistrust around mobile gaming, most of it earned, that most people didn’t want to see Nintendo enter that world. With some of their recent decisions and actions being quite questionable (Mario Kart Tour) I think it’s only a good thing that they move away from mobile gaming!

Mobile games aren't bad but the free to play aspect ruins most of them. Unfortunately very few customers are willing to pay reasonable prices to own apps outright so it's all about the hell of micro transactions and pay to win.

Have downloaded all Nintendo's mobile efforts but, apart from the odd peek into Pocket Camp, haven't went near them in many months. So many micro-transactions are required in order to get anything worthwhile in what are really just watered down versions of great games.

Nintendo making mobile games is like Stephen King writing pamphlets.

I feel both their employees and their customers are happy their mobile games didn’t succeed and they can put more focus on what they’re good at.

Super great news!!!!!

...also i would have expected massive crossover between the two Animal Crossing games but, apart from some items at the NH launch, nothing.

Well it’s not like all mobile games are bad, but Nintendo took existing franchises and dumbed them down for mobile.

If they had tried something more innovative, then people would be upset to hear this news. It’s a shame they wasted the opportunity.

@Arnold-Kage That was the whole idea of Nintendo getting into mobile gaming to begin with. The trouble is, very few ever manage to make a success in the market and even those that do, struggle to repeat the success in future titles.

Weren't it the investors that were yelling for Nintendo to do mobile games in the first place?

The simple matter is that Nintendo are known for making quality games, quality games sell better, and mobile titles sacrice quality. The Switch has the best balance of portability and quality going. Phones and tablets just reduce the quality too much. Either because if F2P design, or the general way in which customers are able to interact with their games.

Pokemon Go was probably the best use of phone mobile design, and even that had limits.

And obviously the lockdowns are amplifying the benefits of console over a purely mobile device.

Yay...! 😀
Keep focusing on consoles for the real video gaming experience.

If this is true, hopefully more time can be put into improving the Switch online app than making new mobile games

I love to see Nintendo succeeding in the console market but still would liked to have seen them succeed in the mobile space as well. Might have been a great place for less experienced employees to make a start with some new ideas rather than having experienced hands trying to bring over established franchises.

I'm glad people have generally stayed away and not funded these mobile games as much as Nintendo wanted. Great result for gamers.

They could have done better if the quality and sales models were better. Having said that, I would much rather them focus on Switch games.

I always forget about this part of their business. My sister recently asked me if I play games on my phone. I was like, I have no interesting in playing Fruit Ninja type games when I can play Mario and Zelda on the go! 🤨

"instead pledging to support the games already in existence" is the bottom line I need to hear. Growing admittedly bitter about all the shutdowns, especially now that the western Symphogear XDU server is ending up almost longer announced than actually online. There's a ton of story content in FEH and I might eventually try sideloading Dragalia Lost, so hey.

And before the usual soapbox buffoons in the fandom open their mouths about "predatory MTX practices", let them take note that Super Mario Run continues floundering along with the rest of the mobile gang. But OH RIGHT, this traditionally distributed title is just "overpriced" this time, amirite? Fans have a limited arsenal of tunes at the end of the day.

Don’t mind Dr Mario world. But couldn’t get into their other mobile offerings. Only used pocket camp to get the bonus items for new horizons.

I'm happy they are focussing more on console games as I can't play mobile games in my country due gambling laws.

Maybe they can make a new Mario Kart that isn't a cashgrab now

Anything that frees up the Nintendo's development teams to make games for the Switch is welcome, but just hope they do not forget that mobile games bring in money too.

That's good. The sooner predatory microtransaction-focused games disappear the better.

This is good news, however I do think the odd mobile game if done correctly can help to be used as a small taster to get the consumer to then buy the full fat console version...
To leave the mobile arena completely would be an error so I do hope the scaled back approach means the occasional game will still get released. Even if it is just used as basically marketing to lead the consumer towards the Switch itself...

Nintendo needs to start revealing more games or at least give us another mini direct.

Good I'm glad!!!!let's go switch games

I would stick with a handful of great smartphone games per year and use them as they have been doing to help sell their games on their own devices.

I don't like mobile gaming. I find the vast overwhelming majority of mobile games to be lazy freemium cash grabs.

But I don't think this is a good idea by Nintendo. They should be using their current financial success to build a subsidiary of Nintendo, a secondary studio, to produce mobile games. Pulling out of that market now is only going to hurt them.

Because guys, it's time we realize, we are the niche market now. Mobile gaming accounts for a much larger part of the industry now. Mobile gaming is not going to go away. We, the console and yes, the PC gamers too are the niche market. The "hardcore" serious gamers. We go out of our way to play what we like.

But the average gamer these days, the more common breed is the casual audience. The dude playing a freemium on his phone at lunch. The kids playing games on their phones on the bus. The guy playing stuff in the doctor's office lobby. Those commuters on the train or bus. The curious grandma. The housewife taking a break between cleaning and child care. The people who don't have the time and/or money to devote to a dedicated gaming device. Are more common.

But these days, the overwhelming majority of consumers in most developed countries have a smartphone.

Mobile gaming is here to stay. Whether we like it, or not.

Great choice.

Give at least mario kart the same treatment. Im so ready for mario kart 9.

We did it, bois. Nintendo made the right choice!

I do wonder how many people bought animal crossing on switch because of their experience on mobile. I know a fair few people who played pocket camp having never tried the series itself. Could be good to keep up just as an advertisement for their console games and general planned media empire.

I just hope they don't remove the ability to play Mario run because it was a paid game and it's still in my back log 😂

I haven't touched any of their freemium games since I lost over a year of my life to pocket camp. Maybe it might be wise to release "definitive" versions of these games on switch (mario kart tour, fire emblem heroes) with the freemium mechanics removed just so this era of Nintendo games, albeit small, isn't lost to the ether of mobile spin offs and can be preserved along with the rest of Nintendo's back catalog.

Good news maybe now Nintendo can concentrate on bringing their big franchises to switch

Fine by me. Mario Run aside, none of them have held my attention like their proper titles.

It's a good thing that consoles will remain an important part of Nintendo's plan going forward. I also don't mind the occasional mobile game/app here and there

They already have a suite of gacha games brining in millions from mobile gambling so... Yay? I guess?

The only games I play on mobile are Scrabble and PDC darts. Really enjoy both of them and have never spent a penny on either, there's no need to.

I don't mind Nintendo doing the odd mobile game every now and then, but they need to inject new ideas into the mix and not just copy the flawed models other companies do. Why they didn't tap Wario Ware up for Mobile is a misstep as that mini game series is pre built for mobile, also NES remix too.
I would like to see a full fledged Dragalia Lost perhaps on Switch or next Nintendo device/service.

Mobile gaming is a morally bankrupt industry.

I’ve actually really enjoyed Mario Run (at least until I’d beaten it, and haven’t been back), FE Heroes (though the slow drip feed of chapters keeps breaking my attention) and Dr Mario. The others failed to grab me.

But I can see a clear use of them to draw in new players. I’ve recommended FEH to people, and I at some point I might use Mario Run as my kids introduction to platformers.

I do wonder how many people who played AC Pocket Camp a) had never played AC before, and b) then bought New Horizons.

I've yet to find an actual good mobile game [s]by Nintendo[/s].

Kinda disappointed tbh! I'm not a big mobile gamer, but Nintendo's stuff has consistently been better than most of the other chaff on the app store. Dragalia Lost and Dr. Mario are my go to games for lunch breaks

WAIT. Do you mean to tell me gamers want a full gaming experience for one upfront price instead of lazy, greedy, whale-milking mobile shovelware? What is this sorcery?

problem with mobile games is the begging all the time and trying bleed you dry for every penny. think more more people are just getting sick of it. sooner these scum bag companys disapear the better.

Clubhouse games would have been PERFECT on mobile.

@dugan I usually never play mobile games, but I got hooked on Super Hexagon. Basically the perfect game on mobile, costs about £2.69

@sixrings why would it be better on mobile if it's already on the Switch

@KingOfTheFools
Oh, sweet summer child. 😊

There are tons of interesting, creative experiences available on mobile so I’ve no intention of entirely writing off the medium, but the reality is that the market is highly oversaturated, and quality tends to get drowned out by F2P crap. I’m just glad that the switch offers mobile developers an opportunity to find another audience for their projects. Saying all this however, I’ve not particularly enjoyed Nintendo’s mobile output—always felt their design ethos was a bad fit for mobile—so I’m glad that they can continue to focus on making one device as successful as possible…vive la switch.

Perhaps Nintendo should just realize that hteir mobile games function as advertisements that also make a bit of money, not a means of propelling a franchise on their own.

I’m sure glad to see this now maybe they’ll consider Eternal Darkness HD.

@AJDarkstar Yeah, you’re absolutely right. It’s not like they didn’t give it a go. But one-off, upfront payments are simply not the business model the mobile ecosystem works around. I’m in exactly the same boat, in that I’d rather sit down with a dedicated games console and play a fully fleshed out game rather than endlessly fritter away tiny chunks of time and money on a screen in my pocket. But the market has spoken, and I’m just glad that it’s a market has deemed more profitable to move away from.

Amazing news!

It's good and reassuring to hear things work out for Nintendo, as I really would like them to continue doing their own thing, their own hardware and focus on consoles.

animal crossing sales said "Period!"

they need to focus on what works.

I think this is the right move forward!

Good move by Nintendo.

I think it'd be a shame if they stopped completely - I really enjoyed Super Mario Run and play more of Mario Kart Tour than I do MK8 on Switch. With the right game and the right approach it's a wonderful way to play games. Sadly I don't think Nintendo got the balance right, but would have liked to see them keep trying rather than give up completely, personally.

I only downloaded 3 of those mentioned and I barely played them after a few weeks.

Also currently playing Mario Kart Tour but do not want to get into the microtransactions. So it is a tepid experience.

I hope games like Dragalia Lost and others that didn't appear on consoles get full fat console releases.

(I was OK with Nintendo producing some mobile games if it helped the "health" of the Nintendo business as a whole and if it didn't greatly decrease output on the proper console games).

This is good news.

For a while I have had a theory about Nintendo's approach to mobile games.

Nintendo have always said that they only want their games on their systems.

What if they deliberately made bad mobile games to firstly plicate their shareholders, then be in a position to say "well, we tried. We tried different models but it seems consumers want Nintendo games on Nintendo systems".

Nintendo could have easily made a better Mario platformer & Mario Kart on mobile phones. Technically there's not much difference between a high powered Android phone and the Switch.

My reckoning is that they knew early on that it wouldn't benefit their customers and tried to put people off with their outrageous monetary models. ☺️

Surprised Gardenscapes is up so high despite having horrendous ads.

I really love Mario Kart Tour, but the money grabs are a bit much. I hope this means they are working on MK9 with all those new characters and ideas (I especially like the trick course variants).

Excellent. Now go and produce a proper new Mario Kart please!

If the mobile games had synergy with console titles I would have cared more.
Day one miitomo downloader here.

What if Nintendo had a Zelda 2D phone title that essentially served as a side quest for Link’s Awakening? Or whatever 2D Title the move on to. Allowing you to build stages like in the game, accessing even more tiles and challenging others to complete your dungeon both on Switch and on your phone? Complete with high scores.
As a bonus the app would act as a controller for Four Swords/ Triforce Hero’s style gameplay.
Idk mobile games aren’t particularly good at maintaining interest given their general bite size capacity and lack of analog input.

I like Mario Kart Tour, I still play Dragalia Lost, and enjoyed Fire Emblem Heroes but couldn’t keep up with that game. Enjoyed pokemon masters for a day, liked Miitomo well enough, still boot up mario run here and there, and still play Go.

Honestly this is a shame to me. Nintendo made some good mobile games. I’d still like to see a playable Dragalia Lost app on switch.

All I can say is good. I played Mario Run and Mario Kart Tour, but fell off. Will I remember either in 10 years? Probably not.

Dont look back Nintendo. Drop mobile gaming and do what you do best.

I personally just don’t do mobile games. I get some people like it, but I’m one of those that will fall off immediately and not invest a dime.

I’d rather Nintendo put focus into their regular games, so I’m definitely ok with this. The mobile game business is so noisy and crowded, it basically takes a mini miracle to make it a viable venture to continue on.

Man people are such crybabies to anything that's different.

I like Mario kart tour. Great mobile game.
Odd decision for Nintendo to pull out slowly from the mobile games if true

I feel like they should have just not listened to the loud minority online when they cried about being charged for Mario Run and kept the games non-F2P models.

Nintendo has an amazing line up that would do well on mobile, but after Mario Run they pivoted into gatcha world.

@tanaka2687 They should do some kind of Switch conversion for that game, it's underrated.

Thank Goodness. I tried some nintendo mobile games, but it was not enjoyable at all. So I stopped, deleted, and never redownloaded any of their titles.

I don't think it's a good idea to back off, but maybe a slimmer amount of stuff brought forth. Also, notably speaking, perhaps doing more free to play stuff as Mario Run wasn't long for the world of profit given the $10 price per platform and the atrocious minimal control it had sucking much freedom from play unlike most. Maybe a few more games, traditional or otherwise but catered to the format that would work best converted from the DS era would see more success? Kirby DS had stylus only control. What about Clubhouse Games, and have it interactive play with Switch owners?? Wise designs would be best but not dumping it resoundly, and this is from me who detests touch games as they often fail to work right.

Mario kart tour was great and won an award, I feel like they just started to figure out the market

Honestly I worried about what console nintendo make after the Nintendo switch.

They need to keep the console/handheld hybrid design going forward with future consoles.

They need to standardise this concept with future gens just like Sony and Microsoft keep the same fundamentals with ecah gen but just with better graphics and hardrive, the time for gimmicks is over.

Super Mario Run, for what little it does - and for what little it asks in return - is the "next best thing" to an actual Mario game. Wasn't it for the always-online DRM, I'd recommend it to virtually everyone here.

I don't think we should be celebrating this. It's bad news that Nintendo failed in a market with such a huge potential player base.

It's also curious that they would choose to do less on mobile, when if they put more effort in they might end up creating something with the kind of success of Pokemon Go.

Odd decision. They should continue investing. There's no guarantee their next console will be as big a hit as the Switch. History proves that. They're putting all their eggs in one basket.

Great job Nintendo. And good riddance. The less gaming is aimed at mobile the better. Everyone wins.

YES.

A sensible decision.

Good riddance, have you seen their pricing models? FEH for example iirc is around $60 AUD just for around 20 orbs. That’s 5 summon if you’re not sniping at the cost of nearly a full price game. That’s ridiculous.

@Inc Mobile gaming is fraught with negative associations that do more harm to Nintendo than good.

Fine if you’re some unknown startup with no expectations with regard to quality and good customer care. But Nintendo has a reputation to uphold, and mobile is pretty grubby.

thanks
games are meant to be played
can a game be really played on mobile?

for real, I never get the feeling I'm really playing something, doing something on mobile. Exception goes to card games

Good. Mobile games are garbage.

I don’t mind Mobile games. Mario Kart was fun, we just need Nintendogs now

Hold it... you are not telling the rest of it. They wont make apps anymore, but only for a time. The Bloomberg link you have says the details

@Joriss I have my phone with me 100% of the time. Clubhouse would have been Perfect on mobile.

Having the switch means already gaming on the go. if i used my phone, it is only for dominoes, or card games, or words with friends.

I have mixed feelings. First off, I'm glad we are seeing more support for consoles, but it has been proven to be capable of success on mobile with Pokemon Go. Hopefully, they do what they're known for doing with innovation and actually focus on mobile games that actually are different from the norm, again, as proved by Pokemon Go. Something like an exercise game that is like Ring Fit Adventures in some way.

I think the problem comes down to market relevance—in order to stay at the forefront of mobile gaming, Nintendo would need to employ more snide, disagreeable profit strategies, ie: lootboxes, simple, addictively manipulative style games, etc.

Doing so directly affects their image as a trusted, heavy hitting entertainment company. Remember, Nintendo are on track to stand on the same summit as Disney. They can’t be seen to be whaling in the polluted backwashes of the mobile market.

This is a long term gamble on their reputation. They are looking to create a billion dollar, premium brand. They are on track. Why risk it all for grimy wads of dubious mobile cash?

This is good news if true as the mobile game market is just a pit of crap for the most part. I am not against mobile gaming but it has lost its appeal for me.

What they should do is invest in resources for a better interactive app that truly has value and ties into the existing platforms better.

I'm not terribly miffed about this, but I do hope that some of the good ideas in Nintendo's mobile games make the jump to the full-fledged console games, as crafting in New Horizons did. I'd especially love to see some of Tour's ideas in 9 - track variants (namely reverse ones but I'd like to see trick ones come back), bringing the combo system into a new score attack mode, and its new characters and maybe even some alts. The mobile market is huge, but it doesn't seem like Nintendo found their place in it and clearly they aren't interested anymore in continuing their search.

Mobile games can be good but most Nintendo mobile games are not worth wasting the space on my phone. I would love to see them focus on making some neat casual games for Switch instead or just make some new IPs.

Nintendo is so dense sometimes. Just port the 8bit and 16bit era games to the phones and brand them nintendo classics or something, sell em at 3 to 4 bucks each and thats it!

Maybe if Nintendo releases all the games in all regions the situation would be different. In my country I was never able to download Miitomo, Dragalia Lost, Pokémon Rush, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp. I can't even download Nintendo Switch Online.

Please let this mean they'll have Cygames release a console version of Dragalia Lost now. Not a port, but like, a console game for the IP. That IP dying would be the only thing that's a shame in this news.

Good - the mobile money well had largely dried up, anyway. Not that Nintendo was going to do the scummy methods to make the kind of money that mobile promised.

I’d like to see more companion apps. For example, being able to chip away at a Mario Maker 2 level design on a mobile could be beneficial.

A shame that the best AC furniture is now PC exclusive... Same goes for MK! And DL! Possebly also Mtm.

Draglia lost waste the only good mobile game they had and it was an original IP

This news makes me happy.

@playstation_king Haha. I distinctly remember many, many comments, mostly c. 2017 but extending even to the present, describing the Switch itself as a "gimmick". I dunno - innovation will produce "gimmicks" as well as "Inventions!" if allowed to naturally flourish.

@COVIDberry maybe gimmick was the wrong phrase as its more than that, the switch has massively flourished and thats why Nintendo need to be careful about there next console, the wii was a success but the wii u was a flop, I think in terms of gimmicks/innovation what else could they possible play with?

To me out of the wii, wii u and the switch, the switch has been the best innovation yet and should be the staple design idea going forward with future Nintendo consoles but just better ram, cpu, gpu and battery etc

@FragRed

Got an point their , but besides Fire emblem where you got the main character if you bought the game you never really had any cross promotion

This sounds like a good idea to me, though I didn't mind a couple of their mobile offerings. With the Nintendo Switch's current position in the global market, it seems logical they wouldn't have to focus on mobile income for the time being. Hopefully this will bring even more focus back to their main franchises.

@Heavyarms55 Very much agreed.

This is great news. Glad they’re scaling back mobile!

@playstation_king I hope Nintendo don’t try to innovate too much with the switch’s successor and just make a more powerful ‘switch 2’...

@HappyMaskedGuy I completely agree. That is definitely the path they are currently on. 👍

I generally like mobile gaming because it’s cheap, if not free.

But a few weeks ago they said the opposite, didn’t they?

@datamonkey that what I'm hoping they will do to buy I can't remember Nintendo ever making a pure numbered successor

@BabyYoshi12 they might be free but damn have you seen the prices of microtransactions, £75 for some crystals for a chance of getting some good characters?

If they made the Microtransactions cheaper then people would spend more money on mobile gaming

Too bad Super Mario Run didn't do better. It's a terrific game with a business model that I approve of: upfront price with no micro-transaction nonsense. But it seems that's not what most people want out of their mobile games.

For those that "don't get" mobile gaming, it's simple. It's like Switch/DS/GameBoy on a small device you already have with you and is seen as less "kid focused" in parts of the world.

However, what ended up happening is that mobile gaming didn't become a platform, it became a business model. One that caters toward people with a specific mindset. And the games have to be designed from the ground up around the business model, not designed for the sake of the game. In a way, not like arcades.

Where traditional gaming is about paying a price to get access to a game designed to be fun, or in the modern age continuing to pay to purchase some content (something borrwed from the mobile world), it's designed so that the gameplay directs how you spend money, and the gameplay is designed to keep you engaged in such a way to keep you spending money to make progress.

The game is a tool to access you wallet. Insert coin to continue 10...9...8....

Nintendo tried to enter that market without tarnishing their reputation and tried to deliver games with more fair monetization. Either a flat price like consoles (mario run), or more of a DLC/lootbox system (FE Heroes), without designing the game around digital currency like mobile vendors do.

The problem is mobile is a very different market with a very different audience conditioned to a very different idea of fun. Almost like compulsive gamblers, losing real money is somehow what makes it fun. They seemingly WANT to be exploited, because the risk of real loss is providing their fun. So any model that wants any up front money rather than keeping an open line to your bank account $.99 at a time is doomed to failure.

Nintendo and "traditional gaming" was never going to be a good match for mobile unless they wanted to go all in on that deceptive business practice. And if you do, you're up against Tencent/CCP for the largest markets. They'll spend you under the table.

This is good news overall, and I'm glad to hear it. We've waited since the Iwata era to hear that. And yet, I can't help but wonder, if AC is really the golden goose that ends mobile, what were they ever expecting from mobile?

This is good news, makes a big smile on my face

When I wanna play something, when I have time, I’m on my Switch or PS4. I don’t really have time for anything else. I’ve tried the mobile games. They were okay, but weren’t enough to keep me engaged.

Fine by me. While I have nothing against mobile gaming per se, the only title I play regularly is Pokemon Go depending on what's going on in-game. Even so, I use it as a way to keep myself busy while out exercising.

Some quality mobile games exist to be sure, but that's knocked off-balance by spammy freemium games and games with dubious pay-to-win models. Obviously there's a market that needs tapped, but I feel like more mobile games need at least an ounce of quality. Granted, crapware also exists in other gaming spaces, but there's no doubt that it's rampant on mobile stores.

@Yorumi I agree, there, MK8D is a great game, and the Deluxe version did add a nice value package to the WiiU base, but it feels like it was left to languish shortly after it came out and is kind of stale. Still a good game, but doesn't offer much reason to return at this point. Though it's entirely possible a whole new Kart is already deep in the works considering 8D was a WiiU game with some bonus content, at which point I could understand a lack of new content in the, at this point, "ancient" MK8.

That's great news! But hopefully they don't use their money on games like Animal crossing all the time, that's just not my jam. Time to bring back Warioland, F-Zero, a new 3D Donkey kong, etc.

@BlackenedHalo The world does need it. otherwise I wouldnt have a job.

@Yorumi auto battle is what sells these games. some people have no time to play games but still wants to play them, they want to have strong accounts. they just want to open it on their browser and let it do its thing while they are working. these auto battle games, just like any other games, exists for a special reason: They are profitable.

@BlackenedHalo well many would said the world dont need video games at all.
They are just that: Games. And there is choice for everyone, A PS gamer would look down Switch gamers for example.

I'm very okay with this. As someone who lamented Nintendo making mobile games, I'm extremely happy about this news.

Their mobile games have just been significantly worse versions of their console and handheld games anyway.

Nowadays, attempting to develop a successful mobile games now costs as much to develop as a small-scale console game.

Of all the mobile games that Nintendo + The Pokemon Company have developed, only Pokemon Go has become the massive juggernaut that shareholders have desired, while Fire Emblem Heroes has been a modest success thanks to gacha. Everything else has either seriously struggled to keep momentum after a decent launch (Mario Kart Tour, Dragalia Lost, Pokemon Masters) or has flat-out flopped (Miitomo, Mario Run, Dr Mario World).

Super Mario Run is a decent game, and was a very good attempt by Nintendo, and they should have kept to that model.

But sadly, they moved away from the idea of making add free quality titles for a premium price upfront.

Nintendo could have changed mobile game space. Away from the crap freemium business model, and instead offer top quality mobile titles with a transparent and fair business model.

Sure, they wouldn't have made as much money this way, but they would have had some good quality gateway games, creating a bridge between mobile and consoles, that could generate potential new console customers for their core business.

Sadly Nintendo took the wrong path in hope of easy and big revenue through sneaky and unfair business models, like with so many other mobile games. The latest games like Mario Kart World Tour was a real low point in that regard.

If that is how they see their mobile game business, we do not need Nintendo on mobile. Keep to consoles then.

@dres
Nintendo moved away from premium-priced mobile games like Super Mario Run because Super Mario Run underperformed and generated far less revenue than expected.

Now they are moving away from mobile gaming in general because all of their mobile games are underperforming to some degree. Some of them, like Miitomo and Dr Mario World, have flat-out bombed.

I would of liked to have seen Brain Age and Wario Ware on the Mobile platform.

@westman98

Because their expectations were to high.

Nintendos mobile games do not need to generate a sick amount of revenue, because this isn't their core business.

But if Nintendo instead looked at mobile games as gateway games to console games, and then produced some quality stuff, then it would have been much better than the current situation. Right now they just do as everyone else in the mobile space, but they should do better than that.

Nintendo should just make some short but sweat Mario, Zelda and Metroid games, with the usual high standards for gaming, and then let them be free, or cost 1 or 2 dollars. But with no extra micro transactions or adds.

These games wouldn't generate much revenue directly, but they would be fantastic gateway games for a new mobile audience, that could be transformed into real console gamers were Nintendo gets their biggest earnings.

So indirectly, these mobile games would actually be valuable to Nintendo.

Of course, all Nintendo fans are happy with this. They cannot stand the fact that are other people out there with other tastes than them.

This is interesting. It has been known that the Wii U failure and the 3DS underwhelming success was the motivation to make mobile games, after Pachmoron and pseudo Nintendo fans were asking for Nintendo to ditch their hardware and go third party or full mobile. Nintendo's mobile games were never intended to replace consoles but to have an extra income in case Switch failed.

Now is not the case anymore so is obvious that they will slow down but I doubt they'll leave their mobile business because, for better or worse, they gave money to them and help them survive the transition to Switch.

I think Nintendo mobile games were very good for what they were designed: have extra income and attract new users to their consoles. And it worked, if not as good as they expected.

But most importantly, it laughs in the face of all the morons that wanted Nintendo go third party and proved them wrong. And that's the best part all of it.

@dres
There is no point of making mobile games if they generate such a limited amount of revenue. Why spend resources developing, say, Mario Run 2, when Nintendo can use that money to develop a Mario game for Switch?

As a point of comparison, Mario Run generated $60 million USD of revenue in 2 years. That equates to 1 million copies sold for a traditional retail release, which is a sales milestone that almost all Mario games (including most spin-offs) achieve with ease.

The Switch isn't a struggling platform in desperate need of attention or advertising like the Wii U. Switch hardware and software have had no issues flying off of shelves. Indeed, franchises such as Zelda, Smash Bros, 3D Mario, Luigi's Mansion, and Mario Party have seen record sales on Switch despite not having any mobile counterparts.

I hate mobile games because 99% of them aren't really games, there is very little actual game play in them, its all about spending that cash. Nintendo is in the business of making games, not slot machines, and they didn't want to tarnish their reputation making slot machines, so they left the mobile market. Good for them.

@DK-Fan It is not a question of taste. Most mobile games aren't games, they're predatory gambling programs that exist to bilk players of nearly unlimited amounts of cash for almost nothing in return. A least a real slot machine has a chance of giving you real money in return. Loot boxes give you nothing tangible in return.

They got super-greedy in FEH since the new year. I feel player's attitudes reflect that.

Great news! I was fine with Mario Run and I tree s one-time purchase and Dragalia Lost was fun, Animal Crossing was too but I HATE micro-transactions then came Fire Emblem with ridiculous MT'S (IMO) and the Mario Kart with its ridiculously overpriced subscription BS, that then ruined and made its way to F.E. and A.C. so this news has put a huge smile on my face!

They just got too greedy, so all Nintendo games got uninstalled from my phone and I wished for this day too come!

Most mobile games in general do not get my attention anymore as too many MT'S with paywalls and/or P2W mechanics that I refuse to ever support or stupid gambling loot boxes which are the worst of all additions into the gaming industry.

Not a surprise their mobile division makes less than MK8 DX alone and have had much more money put into them.

It would be nice if they could salvage the foundation of Dragalia Lost and flesh it out into something that could be made as a normal console release.

@Yorumi Honestly, the idea of making these games is spending as less as possible to profit as much as possible. they are not really interested if you are having fun or not. this would require resources that they are not willing to spend.

I like Nintendo a lot, however their mobile games haven’t been the best. Mario Run was shallow fun but didn’t generate a lot of revenue, Miitomo was perplexing and not very fun. Mario Kart Tour was bad.

Mobile was meant to compliment their console franchises and raise exposure of their brands, in the hope more people would pick up the consoles.

What mobile actually did was dilute those brands, and arguably tarnished them a little.

I’m not sad to see them leave it behind.

It was really stupid to think that these mobile games could have brought attention of the players to buy the Switch. They just do not care, as they only care about free games. If they bought the Switch they would have to pay for games and that is not what such players like to do at all.

Mobile Animal Crossing can't compare to a console version of Animal Crossing. And mobile gaming pay schemes are filthy most if not all the time per actual value per cost.

@BlackenedHalo Why?

I like all the games, including those for mobile, but the fact is all of the Nintendo offerings are a commercial for real deal on consoles.

Mario Kart Tour would have been great if it worked in landscape mode, supported gamepads, and had 200cc unlocked for all. Nintendo really knows how to ruin a mobile game smh.

@BANJO exactly! I don't care for mobile games at all. The only one I downloaded was Miitomo. But I think it is a good marketing tool and vehicle if done correctly. I hope they don't leave the arena entirely.

@ecco6t9 Brain Age and Game & Wario would be awesome! So would Street Pass or Street Pass like games. And then some silly Mario Party type games. Maybe some franchise themed Candy Crush. Things are good now, but times change fast.

@rockodoodle Yes, it's a balance.. Mobiles are not going anywhere so they still need to be used where possible as a marketing tool to push the consumer across to the Switch.. I think the occasional key mobile game even if it's just 1-2 a year is still needed going forwards..

Not shocked, but mostly because they put half hearted efforts into Super Mario Run, Mario Kart, Pocket Camp and Dr. Mario.

Not a big shock, the games they actually cared about - Fire Emblem and Dragalia Lost and smartly handed Pokemon Go over - al have done well.

Whatever makes them money is where they should go. And Pokemon Go alone will continue to give them some mobile profits for awhile.

People here only trust analysts when its relating to good news....

"BuT mObIlE iS tHe FuTuRe Of GaMiNg!"

As much as people and the industry try to hype up mobile gaming as a replacement for dedicated home hardware, you then read stories like this. The mobile market places are 80% unplayable garbage. Nevermind the fact a touch screen interface is never going to be a worthwhile replacement for a dedicated controller or mouse/keyboard for gaming for the games that need that kind of tactile control.

The vast majority of people over the age of 13 aren't going to carry a controller or controller shell for their phone to play something more dedicated for that kind on input on their mobile device. If it can't be played well on the stock touchscreen when you take your phone of out of your pocket, most people aren't gonna bother playing it or supporting it.

Meanwhile, all the billions of dollars the industry touts that digital gaming makes annually, a vast majority of that is spent on microtransactions on games like candy crush and not on $60 AAA game sales on console/pc. Mobile should almost be considered it's own segment of the gaming industry and not lumped together with other parts of the market imo. It's never going to be a dedicated home hardware killer like many think it will, at least not anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Best news I’ve heard all week!

Excellent. Just excellent.

Might even make more money if Nintendo stopped charging full price for launch/wiiu games. Is anyone paying retail for Tropical Freeze? C'mon...

But they only make mobile games...DS and Switch, yo.

At the very least, The Pokemon Company (owned by Nintendo) is still churning out new mobile games such as the recent Pokemon Cafe Mix.. so there will be some Nintendo ‘elements’ in future games

Thank goodness. I'm so happy to see a game studio focusing on their already successful titles and managing them to their fullest potential! Never stop doing your own thing Nintendo. Mobile isn't needed and if it is, the Switch is the new mobile. All the better games should just be played on PC or an actual console. Leave the mobile stuff to BigFishGames (if they even still exist).