Nintendo announces mobile partnership with DeNA, hints at NX platform
Nintendo is moving headlong into the mobile space. Today they announced they are partnering with mobile publisher DeNA to license all of Nintendo's IP on mobile platforms. DeNA won't be doing straight ports per se, but don't be surprised if you see Mario, Link and Samus on your iPhone or Android in the near future.
Nintendo also hinted at a cross-platform online membership service that will serve Wii U, 3DS, web and mobile systems. This service will launch in the fall, and will most likely be the replacement for Club Nintendo, among other things.
Most cryptically, Nintendo tentatively announced a new dedicated gaming platform, code-named NX, and said they will reveal more about it next year. This announcement is likely intended to assuage fears that Nintendo is ditching console gaming altogether to focus on mobile. Indeed, Satoru Iwata promised that their partnership with DeNA was intended to bridge the gap between dedicated gaming consoles and mobile devices, not to completely shift focus to one or the other.
Whether this NX project is intended as a replacement for Wii U and/or 3DS, or is a third pillar like the DS initially was for the GBA and GameCube, is yet to be seen. Iwata said NX is a "brand new concept," so it might be the long-rumored fusion between a home console and a handheld that's been floating around for a while. In any case, it's an exciting time to be a Nintendo fan.
Nintendo and DeNA Form Business and Capital Alliance
Companies to Develop New Game Apps Featuring Nintendo IP for
Smart Devices and a New Multi-Device Membership Service
TOKYO, March 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nintendo Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo:7974) and DeNA Co., Ltd. (Tokyo:2432) today entered into a
business and capital alliance to develop and operate new game apps for
smart devices and build a new multi-device membership service for
consumers worldwide.
Leveraging the strength of Nintendo's intellectual property (IP) and
game development skills in combination with DeNA's world-class
expertise in mobile games, both companies will develop and operate new
game apps based on Nintendo's IP, including its iconic game characters,
for smart devices. The alliance is intended to complement Nintendo's
dedicated video game systems business and extend Nintendo's reach into
the vast market of smart device users worldwide. Under the alliance,
DeNA will also be able to strengthen its gaming business at a global
scale by leveraging Nintendo's IP. To ensure the quality of game
experience that consumers expect from this alliance of Nintendo and
DeNA, only new original games optimized for smart device functionality
will be created, rather than porting games created specifically for the
Wii U home console or the Nintendo 3DS portable system.
In order to create completely new game experiences for smart devices,
all Nintendo IP will be eligible for development and exploration by the
alliance. As these consumers enjoy the unique kind of gameplay found
only with Nintendo, they will have the opportunity to explore even more
premium experiences on Nintendo's dedicated video game platforms.
Information on upcoming games and availability will be forthcoming.
Nintendo and DeNA also plan to develop an online membership service
that is accessible from smart devices, PC and Nintendo systems, such as
the Nintendo 3DS portable system and the Wii U home console. The
membership service, which is targeted to launch in the fall of 2015,
will be built on DeNA's extensive experience and capabilities in online
membership services.
As part of the long-term relationship and commitment by each company,
Nintendo and DeNA have also agreed to form a capital alliance. Under
the capital alliance, Nintendo will acquire 15,081,000 of DeNA's
treasury shares, which corresponds to 10.00 percent of its total
outstanding stock, for a total of approximately 22 billion yen. DeNA
will simultaneously acquire 1,759,400 of Nintendo's treasury shares,
which corresponds to 1.24 percent of its outstanding stock, for a total
of approximately 22 billion yen. The payment is due April 2, 2015.
About Nintendo
The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment,
Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware
and software for its Wii U(TM) and Wii(TM) home consoles, and Nintendo
3DS(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM) families of portable systems. Since 1983,
when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System(TM), Nintendo has
sold more than 4.3 billion video games and more than 680 million
hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U,
Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy(TM), Game Boy
Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi(TM) and Nintendo DSi XL(TM), Super
NES(TM), Nintendo 64(TM), Nintendo GameCube(TM) and Wii systems. It has
also created industry icons that have become well-known, household
names such as Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(TM), Metroid(TM), Zelda(TM) and
Pokemon(TM). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based
in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in
the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please
visit the company's website at http://www.nintendo.com.
About DeNA
DeNA (pronounced "D-N-A") is a global Internet company that develops
and operates a broad range of mobile and online services including
games, e-commerce and other diversified offerings. Founded in 1999,
DeNA is headquartered in Tokyo with offices and game development
studios across the globe. DeNA Co., Ltd. is listed on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange (2432). For more information, visit: dena.com
