Nintendo announced on Wednesday, April 27, that it is bringing on smartphones two of its most popular franchises: "Fire Emblem" and "Animal Crossing."
According to The Verge, the announcement was made during the company's yearly earnings call. Nintendo also confirmed a March 17 release for its next gaming console called the NX.
Nintendo did not give many details about the future smartphone titles. However, it is certain that Nintendo is working on two new smartphone apps that are based on the games "Fire Emblem" and "Animal Crossing."
The new smartphone games will be released in fall. They seem like a smart choice for the company's plan to develop its mobile strategy. Both game series seem ideal for smartphone release, since they are already popular on Nintendo's handheld systems.
In March, Nintendo released its first smartphone app called "Miitomo." The application is a free-to-download social network based on Mii avatars.
"Miitomo" is based on "Tomodachi Life," asking users to create a Mii, answer questions and share responses with their followers. The app's in-game currency is used as a reward for the subsequent comments and hearts.
The coins gained in the game can be used to improve the player's style ranking by purchasing some new clothes. Another feature called "Miifoto" allows players to dress up their Mii and take photos using various images as a background.
The Miitomo title was clearly a niche but the game still registered over 10 million donwloads and more than 20 million Miifotos. More traditional titles like "Fire Emblem" and "Animal Crossing" have established fanbases and they could do even better.
Engadget reports that the two new smartphone apps will take different approaches to their respective franchises. "Animal Crossing," for instance, is a casual franchise, while "Fire Emblem" is a tactical role-playing game.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo's plan to release the two apps on smartphones this fall is a disappointment for the investors. The company is lacking financial results, and investors had expected faster moves to improve sales and profit.
