Ten minutes before Apple went live with its big fall product reveal Wednesday, fans on Twitter seemed listless. So much news had already been leaked, especially the specs on the iPhone 7, they were tepid like kids who already knew what was under the Christmas tree.
But when an old mustachioed friend named Mario ran on stage and then was followed by Pokémon, the kids nearly lost their minds.
Apple announced it would bring Nintendo to the App store with the game Super Mario Run for playing on the iPhone and iPad. But there was one more thing to unwrap — Pokémon Go for the Apple Watch.
Even as other exciting news was announced — a waterproof Apple watch, real-time collaboration for the iWork software and the stunning new camera features on the iPhone 7 Plus — many on Twitter continued to gush about Super Mario Run and Pokémon Go.
Pop culture to the rescue! Will Pokémon Go save #Apple?
— Galo Canizares (@GaloAndStuff) September 7, 2016
Apple also said the Apple Watch was the second most popular brand behind Rolex. Even with Apple leading in the smart watch space, sluggish sales suggest few are convinced it’s the next big thing. But Pokémon Go seemed to be enough to convince some holdouts.
Pokémon go on the Apple Watch WELP guess I’m getting an Apple Watch #apple
— Meshari Bin Hasan (@twiggymoo) September 7, 2016
Super Mario Run and future Nintendo games could be many gold coins for Apple if Twitter is an indicator of future success.
#Apple & #Nintendo working together! Please just max my credit card now #AppleEvent
— Jose F (@greatJ87) September 7, 2016
Omg, I am just about to die!!!! #AppleEvent #nintendo #apple #applekeynote pic.twitter.com/BkFiDaesVH
— Said Edu (@saidvenegas) September 7, 2016
Holy shit. MARIO FOR iOS #AppleEvent #apple
— Mango Saul (@MustBeTheDaddy) September 7, 2016
Go buy some Nintendo stock ASAP. #Apple
— Ez Rooster (@eazyrooster) September 7, 2016
Break the internet #Apple #Nintendo
— Raskolnikov (@RaskolnikovR) September 7, 2016
This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship #apple #nintendo #AppleEvent
— Eric (@Mr_Eric_S) September 7, 2016
However, Twitter wouldn’t be Twitter without snark and shade.
One fan tweeted, “Pokémon Go on an Apple Watch? Now people will be staring at their wrists instead of the road.” Another said he didn’t care about Nintendo on iOS. “How about a cord that lasts more than 2 months?”
Pokémon Go has forced Apple to start with a blasé moment about Mario on the iPhone. (Just what we were waiting for??) #fail #apple
— Rajendran Dandapani (@rajonthemove) September 7, 2016