Michal Ždanský Until now, Japanese gaming company Nintendo has avoided the iOS and Android mobile platforms in favor of its own hardware, for which first-party titles have been exclusive. However, after an unsuccessful third quarter, the gaming giant is considering other options to keep the company in the black, and these plans include bringing well-known Nintendo characters to the screens of iPhones and iPads.
Nintendo didn't do too well last year, with the new Wii U lagging behind its successful predecessor and gamers preferring consoles from Sony and Microsoft. Among handhelds, the 3DS is pushing out smartphones and tablets, which casual gamers prefer over dedicated gaming devices. As a result, Nintendo lowered the Wii U sales forecast from 9 million to just under three, and the 3DS from 18 million to 13,5 million.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced at a press conference last week that the company is considering a new business structure that includes "smart devices." After all, investors demanded the company develop iOS titles as early as mid-2011 after interest in the 3DS was lower than Nintendo expected. At the same time, Iwata reportedly described Apple as "the enemy of the future" and even half a year ago claimed that he was not even considering providing valuable Nintendo resources to other platforms. He seems to be slowly changing his mind due to poor results.
Many owners of iOS devices would certainly like to play games like Super Mario, Legend of Zelda or Pokémon on their iPhones or iPads, but for Nintendo it would mean a definitive capitulation to the strategy of proprietary consoles and custom games that has accompanied the company for a long time. However, it may happen that these will not be full-fledged games, but offshoots with well-known characters with simpler gameplay. However, while Nintendo is hesitating, the thr of mobile games is still growing and people are paying many times more in the App Store and Play Store than they are for handheld games.
Oh yeah... it's sad that Nintendo is in this position today. If they start publishing on mobile devices, I'm afraid that their HW division is over. I grew up on Nintendo and it's a shame that even this ancient game company has to worry about its future today. I would say that you don't have the best marketing in the world and that does its part. Maybe a Japanese visionary will appear and it will be better, even if consoles are not the best deal today.
It's just a different time. Mobile platforms offer plenty of casual games in adequate quality, and interesting hardcore games are also starting to appear recently. For nintendo it just means the need to move with the times. Not even the PS Vita is doing nearly as well as the PSP used to be.