Nintendo Announces Future Plans

Late this evening – and early Thursday morning in Japan – Nintendo brass delivered their remarks to investors detailing what is coming from Nintendo within the next 6 months. They touched on future titles, the new system that would replace Club Nintendo, and mobile games. Here is the breakdown, information courtesy of Nintendo Everything.

First and foremost, Nintendo is promising to release more titles for 3DS and Wii U this holiday season, titles that we don’t even know about yet. There was a tease during the presentation of a picture of Link from Twilight Princess. This could point to a HD release coming this holiday season. What will be interesting, however, if these are games for Japan, or worldwide. If recent Nintendo games are any indication, they often come out in Japan long before being launched in North America and Europe (Yoshi’s Woolly World, Yo-Kai Watch, Animal Crossing…).

Club Nintendo is finally  – although not really – being replaced. Unfortunately, we will be waiting until March 2016 for it to officially roll out. More details are below, but what you really need to know is that Nintendo is working on having a dedicated system that will be recognized across all platforms, including mobile and PC. Hopefully, Nintendo is finally getting in line with Microsoft and Sony on this front. Here is what Nintendo Everything had to say:

– Ease of creation/use of Nintendo Accounts being emphasized
– Register with NNID, Facebook, Twitter, Google, e-mail
– Purchase software downloads on the site, see purchases, play info, and game-related messages
– Nintendo will send notices and gifts
– Ex: Animal Crossing character called Isabel may send some information or a present to those who are playing with that game, Mario Kart players may receive a notice about add-on content and we may also send a message that enables the recipient to purchase some software at an attractive price point on his or her birthday
– Games purchased can be automatically downloaded to your system
– Receive points by using and playing games or purchasing them
– This applies to both console and mobile
– Use points on digital goods (maybe DLC), original goods, and coupons
– Use your account in conjunction with the theme park, as well as theaters and stores
– Make friends with those who enjoy playing games together by establishing “Friend” relationships
– Friend relationship can be established only between two people who know each other and have consented to the relationship
– This Friend relationship can be used for software for dedicated game systems and smart device applications
– Nintendo Accounts will provide cloud storage of character and save data
– Will provide membership service benefits in other real-life facilities such as theme parks, movie theaters and retail outlets
– My Nintendo will work as a bridge between dedicated game systems and smart devices
– My Nintendo out in March 

Finally, Nintendo detailed plans for mobile games, also coming in 2016. According to Mr. Kimishima,

The new smartphone game will be “Miitomo”. It will be free to play, with attractive add-ons that people can pay for.

Miitomo is essentially a Mii building minigame, where many things will be free but the stuff you really want will be tucked behind a paywall. While this is not exactly what I wanted out of Nintendo from a mobile perspective, I suppose it is just one game out of many that they are sure to launch.