Nintendo doesn’t want to keep iOS users waiting for new games

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Super Mario Run
Nintendo is adding more mobile developers to speed up its rate of production.
Photo: Apple

Nintendo might be delivering on its promise to bring original titles like Super Mario Run and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to iOS, but it’s also concerned about the timetable it is able to deliver these on. Or not deliver them on, as may be the case.

According to a new report, Nintendo is looking to team up with new smartphone game developers after its partnership with current mobile dev DeNA “fell behind schedule.”

The companies first announced that they were teaming up back in March 2015. At that time, they claimed that one game would be released in 2015, with five more following in hot pursuit up until March 2017. In the event, their first game, Miitomo shipped to customers in March 2016, followed by Super Mario Run in December 2016, Fire Emblem Heroes in February 2017, and then Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp in November. Only Mario Run managed to ship as promised, rather than being subject to delays.

Nintendo’s not ditching DeNA, which it owns 10 percent of, as acquired as part of the partnership deal. However, it is looking to increase the “pace of new titles” by adding additional software developers into the mix. It is also not planning to take ownership stakes in these new developers, which would presumably make it easier for them to make a clean break if need be.

Disappointing results?

So far, Nintendo’s mobile efforts may have been a disappointment for the company. Although Super Mario Run notched up more than 40 million downloads in just four days, during Nintendo’s recent earnings call it said that the game, “not yet reached an acceptable profit point” after 200 million downloads.

After reportedly struggling to convert free downloads into paid ones, Nintendo has since taken a different approach to monetization. In its recent Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo employed a more typical free-to-play system, involving micro-transactions for those who want to use them for their competitive advantage.

Personally, we’ve got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, more regular Nintendo games is great news for players. On the other, if there are delays necessary for a quality final output, we hope Nintendo doesn’t just plan to rush out titles as fast as possible to make a quick buck.

Have you been impressed by Nintendo’s mobile titles so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: WSJ

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