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Nintendo aims for 2-3 mobile titles per year

Following the success of Super Mario Run (app store record of 40 million downloads in four days), we’ve learned that Nintendo is considering releasing 2-3 mobile games per year, starting in 2017.

We already knew that mobile versions of Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing were coming to mobile next year. The success of Run, Miitomo, and Niantic’s Pokemon Go must have Nintendo even more confident to finally embrace the mobile phone platform years after everyone else.

This information was gleaned from a Japanese interview Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima did on Wednesday with the Kyoto Shimbun.

Kimishima claimed they “expected” the early success of Run and predicted they would pass 100 million downloads.

In terms of actual paying customers, US research firm Annie reported that Nintendo earned $14MM in the first three days after Run’s launch. The reported percentage of paying customers is only 4%.

Keep in mind, this info is via Google Translate.

Kimishima stated that Run will eventually see an Android release in 2017.

I spoke with my favorite games journalist about his first impressions of Super Mario Run.

The Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing mobile games were originally intender for release this year but were delayed to next year, with Super Mario Run taking their place. Nintendo expects both delayed titles to launch before the end of March 2017.

Nintendo stated that Super Mario Run was responsible for the delay of their other mobile games.

“Based on a variety of factors, we felt it was most appropriate for Super Mario Run to launch ahead of these other two apps,”

I would assume that Nintendo wanted to test the waters with Miitomo before risking one of their more valued game IPs. After the initial success it makes sense that their first standard game would feature their Italian mascot. Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing are also big franchises but cater to a more exclusive audience.

Personally I’d like to see a Pikmin game as I think the touch screen would work well with it’s control scheme. Although I’m curious to see how Nintendo handles their upcoming mobile translations after the intelligent one-handed design of Super Mario Run.

What Nintendo mobile games would you like to see?

okay

Mathew Falvai

Mathew is a huge fan of Space, Strategy, and Shadowrun (Genesis version is #1). When it comes to games and films, he’d much rather experience a 10/10 classic from yesteryear than a 6/10 modern blandfest. He does feel we’re living in a gaming golden age with the power of indie developers at an all-time high, but wishes AAA publishers would take more risks. Mat believes it’s only a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way and new ideas take their rightful place above reboots.