Nintendo Mobile News
March2016
News Pokémon Go is All Set for a March 'Field Test' in Japan
The adventure begins, sort of...
Though Pokémon Go recently saw its GDC presentation get cancelled, there's no real suggestion as yet that the project is in trouble; to the contrary developer Niantic is gearing up to send its app into the real world. In a short but sweet blog update the developer has stated that it's planning a field test of the...
News Niantic Cancels Pokémon GO Presentation At Game Developers Conference
No GO?
This year's Game Developers Conference takes place later this month, and Pokémon GO developer Niantic was due to hold a talk on March 14th about its latest game. Studio CEO John Hanke was supposed to give attendees "a first-hand, in-depth look at how players are interacting and exploring the world with one another through Pokemon GO," with...
News Nintendo Will Do Well On Mobile Because That's Where Its Core Audience Is Now, Claims Analyst
"Everybody wants Mario Kart on their mobile"
2016 is a big year for Nintendo. It's celebrating 20 years of Pokémon on one hand, but is also taking a momentous step into the future with Miitomo, the first of a new wave of exclusive smartphone titles created by the firm. In addition to this, Nintendo is taking Pokémon in an exciting new direction...
February2016
News Pokémon Photo Booth Can Now Be Downloaded Off of the App Store
Pokémon Snap
It seems that the Pokémon company is trying to get the hype machine moving at full speed, with a planned Pokémon Direct this Friday that will no doubt have some big announcements. The Pokémon company has especially shown interest in mobile devices lately, with Pokémon Shuffle being ported over and Pokémon GO on the way later this...
News Pokémon Company CEO Reveals Pokémon GO Rollout Details, Teases Another "Big" Project
Japan, Europe and North America first in line
Pokémon Company president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara has revealed in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper that Pokémon GO will hit Japan, Europe and North America first. According to Ishihara, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East will get the game later on. Despite the finer...
News Tatsumi Kimishima Pinpoints NX and Mobile as Key Areas to Deliver 'Nintendo-Like' Profits
Another reminder that NX is due before March 2017
In the past week Nintendo revealed its Q3 financial results, which brought a dip in profit and some slightly concerning sales figures. Overall, however, investors seemed to keep the faith while Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima kept most cards closely to his chest in the accompanying President's...
News Were It Not For Google's Love Of April Fools' Day, Pokémon Go Might Not Have Happened
"I think that kind of culture is one of Google’s assets"
Nintendo's smartphone drive doesn't just include the titles it is developing with DeNA - the company has already dipped a toe into mobile gaming waters with the Pokémon franchise, and with the forthcoming release of Pokémon Go, could make quite a large splash in the smart device arena. In...
News Miitomo to Include Photo Mode and Pre-Registration Will Bring 'Platinum' My Nintendo Point
16 countries to be included in March launch
Update 2: Nintendo of America has also confirmed that Miitomo registration will open on 17th February in the region. Update: A Nintendo of Europe press release has confirmed many of the details below, along with a few other snippets of information. Pre-registration for Miitomo - as outlined below - will...
News Pokémon Go Showcase Session Confirmed for GDC in March
Developer Niantic to provide an in-depth look
One of the year's biggest events for the development community will take place from 14th-18th March (public expo from 16th March) with GDC (Game Developers Conference) in San Francisco. Thousands of developers and industry professionals will descend on the city for a series of events, networking sessions...
News Nintendo's Second Mobile App to Feature an IP "Very Well Known to Everyone"
Please don't be Mario Match-3...
Nintendo has revealed its latest financial results, and though we await the full transcript of President Tatsumi Kimishima's briefing the early noises online suggest that much was kept rather close to the chest. Nevertheless the company is working to charm investors into keeping the faith after results that saw a...
Feature Five Key Details That May Emerge From Nintendo's Financial Reports and Briefings
Mobile plans, release details and hints for the next generation
This week will bring Nintendo's Q3 financial results, a presentation briefing from company President Tatsumi Kimishima and a Q & A with investors. Now, that may not be very exciting on paper, but this particular set of results comes at an interesting point, as it'll be the first...
December2015
News Reggie Talks Smartphone Gaming and My Nintendo
Focusing on making entirely new experiences
About a month ago, Nintendo held an investor's meeting where details were finally revealed around the highly anticipated Nintendo rewards program and Nintendo's first smartphone game from the DeNA partnership. Opinions on the smartphone app, Miitomo, were admittedly divided, though the new 'My Nintendo'...
November2015
News All DeNA and Nintendo Smartphone Apps Currently in Development are Free-to-Play
Still aiming to launch five "carefully selected titles" by March 2017
Nintendo and DeNA has, up to now, spoken about applying mobile app pricing that reflects the type of game being offered. Social app Miitomo, for example, will be free-to-download but have optional purchases for things like Mii outfits, which is an approach that seems to work just...
Video Just Who Exactly is Miitomo Designed for?
Miit & griit
Miitomo isn't the explosive introduction onto smart devices that many people were hoping, but many others remain vigilant that it is indeed a smart move by the big N; not least our own Thomas Whitehead who explains the strengths of the future app. In the video below we discuss with long-time Nintendo Life amigo Andy Robertson from...
October2015
News Nintendo Expecting Mobile Business To Eclipse Wii And DS Era Profits In Three Years
Available in 8 languages, over 100 countries
Nintendo's smartphone plans became a little more real this week with the announcement of the company's first smartphone title, Miitomo. The news was tempered slightly by the revelation that the game - if one can call it that - will be delayed until March next year so that Nintendo has time to properly...
Reaction Nintendo's First Mobile App, Miitomo, Targets the Lucrative Depths of the Blue Ocean
Tom Whitehead mulls over Miitomo and its potential success
Miitomo is a tricky thing to assess early doors, as it's not exactly what many were expecting. In fact, my first reaction in a sleepy fog was that it was a bizarre decision that appeared to go back to the original idea - mooted back in 2013 - of a Mii-driven app. I felt a sense of slight...
Gallery Catch Up With Nintendo's Miitomo Reveal and Concept Images
An evolution of Tomodachi
Nintendo's first smart device app, Miitomo, isn't necessarily what many people expected. The general anticipation was for a game that would utilise a major franchise; while those will still happen, Nintendo is instead releasing a social app driven by the Mii brand. In addition it'll launch alongside the new Nintendo...
News Miitomo, Nintendo's First Smartphone Game, Is Delayed Until March 2016
Free to play with IAP for special items and add-ons
During a special strategy briefing for investors in Tokyo, Nintendo CEO Tatsumi Kimishima has revealed that the first of its smartphone titles has been delayed. Miitomo will be a free to play title, with IAP for add-ons. Exact gameplay details are sketchy, but it sounds like an augmented version...
"Only saying something general may be taken as a negative"
Today has brought the latest Nintendo financial results, so attention now turns to the upcoming President's Presentation from Tatsumi Kimishima, which will be his first in the role. It's taking place at 10am Tokyo time on 29th October, which is 1am UK / 2am CET, and 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern...
What could it be?
Earlier this year Nintendo formed an alliance with fellow Japanese firm DeNA, with plans to release a game / app on mobile platforms before the end of 2015. In July, DeNA West CEO Shintaro Asako further explained how five different games – each of a distinct genre – were in the pipeline and were scheduled to arrive before the...
News Spooky Halloween Events Are Now Live In Pokémon Shuffle
Ends 26th October
With the spooky time of year fast approaching, Pokémon Shuffle is celebrating the occasion with two new Halloween-inspired events. The first is titled Dusknoir Descends and requires players to defeat the ghost type Pokémon in 20 moves or less. If acquired and then used in battle, Dusknoir may occasionally use Last-Ditch Effort...
September2015
Rumour New Report Suggests That Konami Has All But Abandoned Console Development
PES and Metal Gear Online are the only titles spared
With the incredible commercial and critical success of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain you'd think that publisher Konami would be feeling pretty pleased about its home console output, but it would appear that earlier reports regarding the company exiting the domestic arena are true...
July2015
News If Nintendo Did Decide To Make A Smartphone, We'd Want It To Look Like This
Mixing the old and the new
Nintendo's alliance with DeNA means that the company is moving into the realm of smartphones, something that was almost inconceivable just a short while ago. Making software for phones is a long way away from producing mobile hardware itself, but that hasn't stopped concept artist Pierre Cerveau from cooking up this...
June2015
News Nintendo Didn't Mention Mobile At E3 2015 Because It Was The Wrong Crowd
"You can hear the groan when a particular company talks about mobile"
Nintendo's entry into the mobile phone gaming arena was pretty huge news, and some fans suspected that the company would show off something at E3 2015 related to it. However, that didn't come to pass - and Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime has been explaining to
News Mario Parody Kill The Plumber Rejected From iOS App Store On Grounds Of Copyright
Despite the fact that it showcases entirely new content
Smartphone clones of popular games are a real problem for developers, with shady individuals gleefully copying any successful venture in the hope that they can earn a few shillings from unsuspecting punters. These irksome chaps certainly need dealing with, but sometimes the approach of the...
News Momonga Pinball Adventures Is Bouncing And Flipping Its Way To The Wii U eShop
Another mobile title makes the jump
Update: D'oh. We've just realised that we actually reported on this back in 2013 - presumably Paladin Studios has reconfirmed the arrival of the game on the Wii U eShop. We'll find out and let you know when we know. Original story: Paladin Studios has revealed that its 2013 mobile title Momonga Pinball...
News Natsume Is Bringing Smartphone Title Ninja Strike To The Wii U eShop
Will be showing it off at E3
Natsume has just confirmed the titles it will be showing off at E3, and among them you'll spot a new name: Ninja Strike. Before you get your hopes up, it's not some exciting simulation of what it must have been like in ancient Japan when the Shogun's best assassins decided to down tools over low pay - instead, it's a...
May2015
News Mobile Is Konami's Future, According To President Hideki Hayakawa
"We will pursue mobile games aggressively"
Konami president Hideki Hayakawa has been speaking to Nikkei Trendy Net about the company's future, giving the strongest indication yet of how the firm's business is changing. Hayakawa states that smart devices represent the core focus of Konami's business moving forward. The success of Konami's current...
News Mixi's RPG Mobile Hit Monster Strike Is Coming To The 3DS
Following in the footsteps of GungHo's Puzzles & Dragons
It’s no secret Nintendo has intentions of making smart device gaming one of its major forms of revenue. The company has already reiterated its commitment on several occasions, and the proof is more evident than ever before with the producer of the Mario Kart series being recently appointed...
News Producer Of The Mario Kart Series Appointed As Head Of Nintendo’s Mobile Development Division
Likely to mean Hideki Konno
Following Nintendo's big announcement in March that it would partner with DeNA to bring popular Nintendo IP to new games on smart devices, there was much speculation about how exactly this enthralling venture would unfold. Now Japanese news outlet Sankei is reporting that Nintendo's latest financial results have shed...
April2015
News Nintendo's Mobile Partner DeNA Lays Off Significant Number Of North American Staff
San Francisco and Vancouver offices impacted in "reshape" of operations
Japanese mobile company DeNA has laid off a significant number of North American employees, it has been revealed today. The job losses are taking place at the company's San Francisco and Vancouver offices, and while exact numbers aren't forthcoming at the moment, the layoffs...
News DeNA Hopes To Bring In $25 Million Per Month Via Its Relationship With Nintendo
Nintendo could be getting 70 percent of profits
Nintendo's first mobile phone game is expected to launch later this year, and partner DeNA has been talking up its expectations on the potential profitability of this joint venture. Speaking to Reuters, DeNA CEO Isao Moriyasu stated that while targets
March2015
"Will continue to develop dedicated game titles for our dedicated hardware"
Nintendo has shocked a number of fans and onlookers today with confirmation that it's entered into partnership with DeNA to bring a range of products and games to smart devices. Though Satoru Iwata had suggested this sort of avenue was possible in the past, the sudden...
News Read The Full English Translation of Nintendo & DeNA's Presentation
All aboard the hype train
Within the last hour Nintendo & DeNA gave a presentation to media in Japan announcing their "Business and Capital Alliance". Whilst the live stream of the briefing did have translation, Nintendo have now published the presentation, in English, on their website. Thank you for attending this briefing at such short...
News Nintendo Set To License All IP to Mobile Publisher DeNA
Apps and games (yes, games) coming to smart devices globally
Breaking news this morning is a "Business and Capital Alliance" between Nintendo and fellow Japanese firm DeNA. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7974) and DeNA Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 2432) today entered into a business and capital alliance to develop and operate new game apps for smart devices and...
December2014
Talking Point The Time Is Right For A Nintendo Phone
A move by Nintendo into the mobile space could make the company even bigger
Rumours of Nintendo working on its own mobile phone have been appearing on and off for the past decade, and recently we even heard that the idea almost become a reality back in 2004. The prospect of owning a mobile telecommunications device crafted to suit Nintendo's unique...
May2014
News App Supporting 3DS Tethering With Mobile Confirmed for Japan
Nintendo in partnership with DoCoMo
While tech-savvy gamers may already know how to 'tether' their 3DS to a smartphone in order to use its online connection, Nintendo has confirmed an app — in partnership with provider DoCoMo — that is rolling out in Japan. Its goal is to make tethering the portable system with a mobile's connection as easy as...
February2014
News Investor Wants Nintendo To Create Mobile Titles With Game-Altering In-App Purchases
"Just think of paying 99 cents just to get Mario to jump a little higher"
Please understand, Nintendo isn't keen on bringing its library of games to mobile right now — company president Satoru Iwata has been pretty firm on that point. However, Nintendo is an organisation which has shareholders, and that means it constantly faces pressure from...
January2014
News Mobile Pokémon Clone Eco Spirits Hatches A Kickstarter Campaign
No stretch goals set for an “Eco Spirits Rap”, though
Nintendo stated earlier this week that it currently had no plans to make or release any games — be they full size or mini — on mobile devices. This may have pleased some fans of the company, but it may also have disappointed others. If you fit in to the latter category, fear not — just...
News Nintendo States There Are "No Plans" to Bring Mini-Games to Smart Devices
Satoru Iwata's Corporate Management Policy Briefing will reveal more
The Nikkei, a prominent business newspaper and website in Japan, recently published an article outlining its understanding of Nintendo's upcoming smart device strategies, highlighting its expectations of what will be announced later this week when Satoru Iwata provides an investor...
News The Nintendo Phone Almost Happened A Decade Ago
Ex-Danger employee reveals how Game Boy games nearly came to mobile
Everyone seems to be telling Nintendo to get its games on mobile phones these days, and yesterday's news that the company would be announcing some kind of smartphone strategy seems to suggest that it is listening to such advice. However, a former employee at Danger Research — the...
News The Nikkei Reports Potential Nintendo Smartphone Strategy, to be Announced This Week
Marketing and mini-games on the agenda
Nintendo recently announced major reductions in its sales and financial projections for this financial year, prompting various calls for action throughout the media and from fans. Those calls have naturally included suggestions to jump into the smartphone and tablet markets, though Satoru Iwata has stated that...
November2013
News Nintendo Stock Value Rises After Buying Stake In Mobile Web Company Dwango
Embracing the mobile market
Mobile gaming is something Nintendo reportedly has no plans of participating in anytime soon. President Satoru Iwata previously made it clear Nintendo would lose its identity if it were to make such a move. On other occasions, he has said this field of games and software development is under absolutely no consideration...
August2013
News Game Designers Reveal How Super Mario Bros. 3 Would Work As A Free-To-Play Mobile Title
It's not for the faint hearted...
Free-to-play mobile games have proven popular with casual gamers over recent years and there is seemingly no end of developers looking to create another addictive bird chucking or candy crushing title to harvest money from people's e-wallets. Many people have wondered if this free-to-play model can work for much...
Soapbox Mobile And Tablet Gaming Is Creating A Generation Of Talentless Players
Touchscreens are all very well, but Damien McFerran wants his pad back
As much as dedicated console players hate to admit it, smartphone and tablet gaming has really taken off of late. Companies like GungHo interactive are reaching the kind of audience and generating the kind of revenue that their more established rivals can only dream of, and...
June2013
News Miyamoto: Working With Both Hardware And Software Offers Nintendo "Strong Advantages"
Not looking to move to smartphones any time soon, then
Abandoning hardware and becoming a software-only company would rob Nintendo of many "strong environmental advantanges", according to the company's most famous staff member. Speaking to GamesIndustry International, Shigeru Miyamoto has refuted claims that making software for other hardware would...
May2013
News Tech Site T3 Predicts What The Nintendo Smartphone Would Look Like
If you can't beat them, join them?
Love them or loathe them, smartphones are revolutionising the way people play games on the go. While touchscreen devices are still a long way from providing the same level of immersion and precision offered by dedicated games consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, the fact that they are always in your pocket and always...
News GungHo Online Entertainment's Market Cap Surpasses Nintendo's
Puzzle & Dragons owner sees a huge rise in its share price
The mobile gaming market is certainly on the rise as more and more people start to adopt devices such as tablets and smartphones. No longer do you need to have a dedicated gaming console to enjoy games as you can now find them within various app stores. Naturally, the quality may not...
News Smartphones And Tablets To Be "Primary Screen For Gamers" By 2017
Juniper Research cites falling 3DS and Wii U sales forecasts as proof
According to analyst group Juniper Research, smartphone and tablet devices will be the "primary screen for gamers" by the year 2017, thanks to the increasing dominance of mobile tech and the rapidly-advancing standard of games available. Juniper predicts that a whopping 64.1...
April2013
News House Of The Dead: Overkill Rises From The Grave On Mobile Phones
Sega's Wii classic makes the jump from consoles to smartphones
Sega's Wii shooter The House of the Dead: Overkill has been ported to iOS and Android. Retailing for $4.99 (approximately £3.90), the game transports the expletive-filled zombie-blasting action of the Nintendo original to the small screen of your iOS or Android device. Here's the full...
News Nintendo's Legal Team Forces Mobile Dev To Make Lead Character Less Yoshi-Like
"We are cooperating with Nintendo about the changes required"
Smartphone clones of popular console titles are nothing new, but Android game Era's Adventure took shameless pillaging to an entirely new level; its lead character — by the developer's own admission — was Yoshi. Unsurprisingly, Nintendo's lawyers have been in touch and Era's...
December2012
News Gunman Clive Blasting Onto The European 3DS eShop Before Christmas
North America must wait a little longer
Mobile gaming, whether you like it or not, is fast becoming a popular platform for game developers. Sometimes though, the games spread their wings and make the move onto a dedicated gaming device such as the 3DS; take for example SpeedX 3D, a hugely popular mobile game that now resides in the 3DS eShop...
November2012
News Pokémon Pokédex Is Coming To iOS Devices In Japan
A smart move?
Japan has had Pokédex 3D Pro available to download on the 3DS since July, and it seems the demand for Pokéknowledge knows no bounds in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Pokémon Company has announced today that it will be bringing a new Pokédex to iOS devices from November 16th. The base application, which costs 170 Yen, is similar...
October2012
News Iwata: We Must Make Smart Devices Our Allies, Not Our Enemies
Nintendo President addresses the rise of mobile in recent investor Q&A
Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata has spoken during an investor Q&A this week about the challenges Nintendo faces with mobile gaming on the rise. Iwata noted that devices like tablets and smartphones shouldn't be compared with traditional systems, as dedicated gaming...
September2012
News Pressure Group Makes Fresh Calls For Nintendo To Embrace Mobile Phones
Upwardly mobile?
Are you sick of hearing people saying that Nintendo should start making games for smartphones? Yes? Well prepare yourself for more nausea, because a new pressure group - with the snappy title of Nintendo Go Mobile - has been created to achieve just that goal. Here's what they have to say, spelling errors and all: Nintendo go...
