Nintendo plans to launch its first authentic mobile game in 2016
Nintendo has become the latest game developer and publisher to begin focusing more on mobile games. The Japanese company has a long history with making games mobile-friendly, being the premier name in the provider of handheld gaming consoles. Now, the company is unveiling its first game made specifically for smartphones: Miitomo. The game will serve as a type of social application, allowing users to share information with one another with their Mii avatars.
Company sees significant promise in the mobile gaming space as more consumers rely on their smartphones for entertainment
The company had initially planned to launch the game at the end of this year, but has delayed the launch until March of 2016. This has cast some doubts on Nintendo’s mobile gaming plans, leading to a 10% decrease in the company’s shares. Despite this, however, Nintendo believes that its Miitomo title will be a success among its longstanding fans, especially those that have become very interested in mobile games over the past several years.
Miitomo will make mobile games more social
Miitomo resembles other social applications in that it allows users to interact with one another in real time. They will be using their Mii avatars to accomplish this, with the avatars themselves serving as a way to allow user sot get to know one another. Nintendo intends to introduce some of its popular characters into the mobile game at a later date, introducing some nostalgia into the title and making it more familiar with consumers that have been Nintendo fans since the company got its beginning.
Nintendo will not be focusing exclusively on mobile games
Nintendo is just one of several companies that has begun to focus on mobile games. Konami, another Japanese developer and publisher, recently announced that it would be focusing almost exclusively on mobile titles for the foreseeable future. Nintendo does not intend to follow suit, but the company will be paying more attention to the mobile space, especially as the demand for enjoyable and highly social mobile games continues to rise among consumers.
Mobile games have become a very powerful aspect of the game industry. Consumers have shown aggressive interest in these games, largely due to how convenient they are. These games can be played anywhere and at any time, and most do not require an Internet connection to play. Games with purchasable content have become a significant revenue stream for some developers. While some gamers disapprove of what they call microtransactions — in-game purchases — many consumers have shown that they are willing to pay for additional content, whatever it may be.