If no news is good news, then Nintendo has been sitting pretty for some time. Not only has the Big N been playing the proverbial cards close to its chest with regards to its newly developed mobile phone strategy, the company has also been noticeably tight-lipped about its forthcoming console, codenamed NX.
So imagine my surprise when, first thing this morning, a press release arrived in my inbox detailing both!
First and foremost, it appears as though Miitomo, Nintendo’s first true mobile title and already a rousing success in Japan, has also proven a hit elsewhere after its wider March 31 release. Overall, the title has crossed the 10 million user mark, sparking more than 300 million quirky, Mii-centric conversations along the way. In response, Nintendo plans to mark this occasion with a special 10-day “Celebrating 10 Million Users!” promotion running from April 29-May 8.
As for what’s next, well, apparently Santa got my letter.
Nintendo plans to follow up the success of Miitomo with titles based on my two favorite first-party franchises, Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing, this fall. For the former, the press release states it will be “more accessible in comparison to the Fire Emblem games for Nintendo’s dedicated gaming systems,” but I think its straightforward turn-based strategy is already well suited to mobile devices.
The Animal Crossing app, on the other hand, will serve as an extension of the world featured in the traditional game(s) for those dedicated systems. That said, Nintendo further promises that both titles will be “pure game applications,” as opposed to the more social slant of Miitomo.
Lastly, the NX, it was revealed, is slated to launch in March of 2017… though whether that means a limited, region-specific release or a broader global launch remains to be seen. However, the system will not make an appearance at this year’s E3. (Just imagine the sound of a sad trombone right here.)
In other NX news, the upcoming Legend of Zelda title will be pulling a Twilight Princess–launching simultaneously on both Wii U and NX. While this does push the presumptive release of the game back to 2017, Nintendo has revealed that the game will be the focus of its presence at this year’s E3, with the Wii U iteration playable for the first time on the show floor.
So what does it all mean? Well, who knows, really?
As for me, I remain–as ever–cautiously optimistic. While wild rumors still abound regarding the NX, we simply won’t know until we know, you know? And, at least in the shorter term, I get to look forward to a pair of my favorite series crossing over to my mobile phone.
I reckon I’ll go ahead and presumptively call that a win.
