During the Financial Results Briefing, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima shared a few details on Nintendo's smart-device business model moving forward. One of the topics discussed include the plans to release two to three mobile titles each year, although no titles were announced during the briefing.
With Miitomo, Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes already released, Nintendo's foray into the mobile market is well under way. Nintendo plans to continue company success by increasing brand awareness, which they believe can extend by expanding their reach on smart-devices.
As we've already reported, while Super Mario Run has nearly ten times the download amount, Fire Emblem Heroes has a higher revenue, so it stands to reason Nintendo may continue to rely on free-to-play gameplay in the future. With the support of mobile gaming, Nintendo believes they can expand in other markets, such as the home console market.
Here is an excerpt from the briefing detailing their smart-device plan:
Finally, I will discuss the outlook for our smart-device business. I would like to reaffirm Nintendo's main goals for our smart-device business.
Smart-Device Business:
1. Maximize the Number of People Who Have Access to Nintendo IP
2. Smart-Device Business Profitable on Its Own
3. Synergy with Dedicated Video Game System Business
Provide High-Quality Game Experiences Optimized for Smart DevicesWe will continue to provide service through the applications we have already released so that consumers can continue to enjoy playing those titles.
Although we are not announcing any specific plans today, we plan to continue releasing two to three Nintendo titles per year as smart-device applications for consumers to enjoy.
What Nintendo franchises would you like to see represented on smart-devices?
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 27
I'm just here patiently waiting for Animal Crossing or Rhythm Heaven on mobile...
Smart move, focus on making fewer quality titles for IP coming out later in the year. After the impact Pokemon Go had on 3DS and Pokemon sales theyre going to want to try and replicate it with other IPs.
I'll be interested to see if Mario Run had a similar effect on 3DS mario sales too.
As for franchises Id like to see next on my phone. A Kirby game could be fun, and maybe a PunchOut spin off (but thats just dreaming).
Mario Kart Mobile !!!!
F-Zero Mobile !!!!
Pikmin Mobile !!!!
Just about right. Enough time between them to appreciate them. We already have Miitomo, Pokemon GO, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem, Pokemon Duel and the two Yo-Kai Apps to keep us going.
Two to three per year?
Must be the same scheduling team as they had for the Wii U for the last couple of years
Makes more sense as brand-awareness for mobile though.
As long as they are free they will be successful. Super Mario Run didn't meet expectations since it wasn't free, yet FE: Heroes did. And hopefully they don't make an F-Zero or Metroid mobile game, that would drive me nuts.
Mario Kart on mobile would be nice.
In my opinion, Nintendo/Dena have done a great job of bringing the games like Marion and FE to a mobile platform so far. I'm excited to see how AC goes.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with virtual controls...
I'm half and half about this. Do I like Nintendo mobile offerings so far? Yes. Have I buy the games? Yes. But at the same time I fear all this products end up stealing Switch thunder but at the same time it is Nintendo's job to keep that thunder going. So in conclusion I don't know how to feel about this but I do hope it works well at the end for Nintendo.
Despite the virtually worldwide release of Super Mario Run at day one, Nintendo still needs to expand the global reach for both Miitomo and Fire Emblem Heroes.
Synergy would be easy if they'd let it: a Pokemon Stadium that uploaded your PoGo bestiary to play proper battles with; collecting coins in SMR could offer extra lives for Odyssey, Miitomo could be rebuffed as a friends list manager and Animal Crossing might allow you to send gifts home to other players.
I think these smartphones are a great idea as they bring these brilliant franchises to a load of new people.
We saw a good result form Pokémon Go, let's see how FE Heroes effects sales of Echoes.
Mario golf, super punch out and excitebike please
Zelda?
Hey, when is Animal Crossing mobile version ?
I won't bother wondering whether any of these will be worth playing. They're mobile games, after all.
Super Mario Run will be an evergreen money spinner, going strong in 6 years while Fire Emblem Heroes will be making little in 6 months.
@Dr_Corndog Did you play the ones that have already come out? Just because a platform has tonnes of shovel ware doesn't mean everything on it is automatically terrible.
Oh goody. N launches a new system that now needs a steady stream of software and they divert more resources to smart phones. Super.
My two cents as a gamer, as I gave these all a real chance:
Miitomo got old immediately - 'nuf said. Fire Emblem is a wallet suck and with quality FE titles on dedicated systems with more bang for the buck (even with the sad and unfortunate advent of DLC for Nintendo titles) there's no reason to waste time on it (even if it's a decent game). Super Mario Run is solid, as fun as any quality runner, but ultimately not worth the asking price... and the 'free' version runs out of runway quickly.
These are nothing more than new revenue streams and marketing channels... which is great for Nintendo and makes sense when seen through the lens of a boardroom, but are hardly cause for celebration for dedicated Nintendo hardware gamers.
@MadAdam81 Yes, I have. Actually, Pokemon Go was cool for the novelty, and I still see some appeal in it. SMR and FEH are just not worth playing, though. That's true for almost all mobile games, though.
make a streepass miiplaza app with mini games that could then send coins back to your 3DS/Switch games, I know streetpass is not enabled on Switch, but there isn't anything stopping them from applying the mobile app approach.
Good strategy. 2-3 big mobile games per year is enough to expose Nintendo IPs out to the world, but not enough to take away a significant amount of resources from the Switch (or 3DS).
Let's hope Nintendo does it right this time (cough cough Miitomo and Super Mario Run cough)
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