Nintendo’s Mobile Gaming Apps Surpass 900 Million Downloads
By Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa states that mobile applications and video games occupy a “very significant” segment of the industry.
The creator of the Switch has unveiled a variety of mobile games over time, including Fire Emblem Heroes, Mario Kart Tour, and Super Mario Run.
Several of these titles, such as Miitomo and Dr. Mario World, have since been discontinued. Others, like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, are no longer actively developed but remain playable.
Recently, Nintendo has broadened its mobile initiatives to include media applications like Nintendo Music.
During a recent shareholder Q&A, Furukawa revealed that these mobile projects have collectively achieved over 900 million downloads globally, allowing Nintendo to introduce more individuals to its franchises and characters. This concept remains central to our strategy.
“Our goal is to leverage smart devices, which have extensive reach, to create opportunities for consumers to engage with Nintendo game worlds and music even outside of dedicated gaming systems,” Furukawa stated.
“In the future, we aim to further develop these types of projects, including integration with games, for specific titles.”
Furukawa explained that some users are discovering Nintendo properties for the first time before they have even purchased gaming hardware.
This is something the company views as a significant advantage, which is why it continues to invest in other areas such as theme parks and films—and Furukawa indicated that Nintendo will maintain its focus on mobile platforms as a result.
“Looking ahead, even as we transition to Nintendo Switch 2, it remains crucial to expand touchpoints beyond just video games,” he added. “We believe that smart devices will play a vital role in this effort, and we will continue to research and implement initiatives.”
The Switch 2 is currently scheduled for launch in 2025. Nintendo revealed the console last month, but specific hardware specifications may not be disclosed until later this year.
The original Switch has just surpassed 150 million lifetime sales and is on track to become the best-selling Nintendo system in history.
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Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist with over ten years of experience in the gaming industry. His byline has appeared in prominent print and digital publications, including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events such as GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has served on the judging panel for The Develop Awards several times and has appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.