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TheGreatDirector · Mar 17, 2015

Update 2:

Dena PR:

Companies to develop new game apps featuring Nintendo IP for smart devices and a new multi-device membership service

TOKYO, JAPAN - March 17, 2015 - 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.

Update:

takoyaki said:
Not sure if this has been covered already, the different threads are hard to keep up with. In Asahi Shinbun's writeup of the story it is specifically mentioned that the first smartphone game(s) using Nintendo characters will be released this year.

これまで任天堂はスマホへの展開に慎重だったが、自社のキャラクターをスマホ経由で広めた方が売り上げ増につながると判断した。任天堂キャラを使った最初のスマホゲームを年内に出す。

Click to expand...

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH3K5Q76H3KPLFA00F.html

---

From the Verge- http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/17/8230477/nintendo-dena-mobile-games-announcement

Nintendo has long resisted the call of mobile gaming, but today it entered the space in a big way. The company has announced that it will team up with DeNA, a major Japanese mobile gaming company, to make smartphone games featuring Nintendo characters. The two companies "intend to jointly operate new gaming applications featuring Nintendo IP, which they will develop specifically for smart devices," Nintendo said in a statement.

Nintendo has flirted with mobile gaming before. In a tie-up with GungHo, the company will release a Mario-themed version of Japanese mobile smash hit Puzzle & Dragons for 3DS next month, and recent experiments like Pokémon Shuffle have adopted similar free-to-play business models.

We're at a hastily convened press conference in Tokyo that's due to start soon, and will bring you any further news as it happens.

Mod Abuse:

Direct source: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2015/150317/index.html

Select quotes:

Iwata：

Of course, Nintendo will utilize smart devices as communication media for Nintendo IP. In addition, so that our consumers will be closely connected with them, we will deploy a game business which takes advantage of Nintendo IP.

Iwata：

Quite a few of you must be wondering why Nintendo, which has never deviated from its cautious stance in regard to the possibility of deploying its game business on smart devices, has now changed its policy.
Please note, however, that I was not dismissing the idea of making games for smart devices per se as I stated at the January 2014 Corporate Management Policy Briefing that a development team of Nintendo would create a smart device application, and please also note that I had not ruled out the possibility of making games when we make use of these devices.

Iwata：

Nintendo and DeNA will jointly develop and operate gaming applications for smart devices in global markets.

With this alliance, new entertainment that utilizes Nintendo’s IP will be provided globally via smart devices.

Iwata：

Needless to say, now that we are challenging ourselves in this new business area, we hope that hundreds of millions of people will use and enjoy these products.

Iwata：

As for which Nintendo IP will be used, we do not intend to make any exceptions. Potentially, any Nintendo IP could be used in our smart device software. On the other hand, as I just said, games on smart devices require ever-evolving services rather than just being a finished product. A combined effort will be necessary to operate them. People’s attention would only be dispersed if we simply increased the number of the titles we simultaneously released, and we could not expect to expand our business. Accordingly, we will narrow down the titles for development and operation to some extent.

syncyes · Mar 17, 2015

...oh god.

At least I still have this massive backlog to go through...

Gambit · Mar 17, 2015

it's the end of the world as we know it

and I don't feel fine

tnaden · Mar 17, 2015

Nintendo and DeNA expect to develop a new core system compatible with a variety of devices including PCs, smartphones and tablets as well as Nintendos dedicated video game systems

Nintendo going PC!

Kyou · Mar 17, 2015

Didn't think I'd see the day

cw_sasuke · Mar 17, 2015

Damn.....

jeremy1456 · Mar 17, 2015

Other mobile developers are going to begin folding left and right.

Remember, no one thinks they can compete with Nintendo.

Johnny Dazzle · Mar 17, 2015

There it is.

786110 · Mar 17, 2015

I'M FINISHED! · Mar 17, 2015

Boooooooooooooooooo

Nightengale · Mar 17, 2015

What if it's just Dena going 3DS?

Thoraxes · Mar 17, 2015

They are going to make some mad fucking bank.

Though, this sounds more like the lending IP to outside parties thing than Nintendo moving to mobile. Save your doomsday prophecies and update the thread title lol.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2015/150317e.pdf

-Nintendo buying 10% stock shares of DeNA.
-Nintendo lending out IP.
-Joint development of a new multi-device membership service.

Chobel · Mar 17, 2015

MrT-Tar · Mar 17, 2015

I guess Iwata couldn't ignore those shareholders forever, umfortunately

NewGame · Mar 17, 2015

I think it's going to be a mobile version of the eShop that plays like a game ala Rusty's Real Deal Baseball but instead Iwata's Real Deal Video Games

Striek · Mar 17, 2015

Nightengale said:
What if it's just Dena going 3DS?

Well then Nintendo and DeNA would be lying to shareholders about developing games for smartphones together

spekkeh · Mar 17, 2015

Shaanyboi · Mar 17, 2015

whyman · Mar 17, 2015

So they are letting 3rd party develop games that will be shit with their characters instead of doing it 1st party... Wow Nintendo just keep making bad decitions.

wonzo · Mar 17, 2015

it's great to see nintendo's taking the first steps in ensuring they remain relevant for the next few decades

RadioJoNES64 · Mar 17, 2015

The beginning of the end...

Or perhaps

... The end of the beginning?

Prompto · Mar 17, 2015

Only a matter of time.

intheinbetween · Mar 17, 2015

can't wait for Mario Crush Saga and Pokemon Rescue Saga

TheGreatMightyPoo · Mar 17, 2015

slash3584 · Mar 17, 2015

Just imagine a Pokemon game compatible with Amiibos for mobile.

Keyser Soze · Mar 17, 2015

maquiladora · Mar 17, 2015

Boom - there it is.

jooso · Mar 17, 2015

Give me virtual console or give me nothing.

AdanVC · Mar 17, 2015

WTF The fuck?? I'm just hoping for the best. Not sure how I feel about this but props to Nintendo for taking risks like this.

Trevelyon · Mar 17, 2015

Super Endless Mario runner with Facebook integration.

SatoAilDarko · Mar 17, 2015

I always knew it would have to happen but I thought there it would only begin in like five years. Especially with how Iwata at the helm.

Really interesting to see what will happen.

Nyoro SF · Mar 17, 2015

And here we go. The first step towards Nintendo's inevitable new beginning.

Marche90 · Mar 17, 2015

grandjedi6 · Mar 17, 2015

They never said which IPs it would be! Please be excited for Geist: The Mobile Scare-venture!

maquiladora · Mar 17, 2015

Keyser Soze said:

lmao

spekkeh · Mar 17, 2015

jeremy1456 said:
Other mobile developers are going to begin folding left and right.

Remember, no one thinks they can compete with Nintendo.

Only first party Nintendo games on Android while unprecedented partner King.com moves to Xbox eh.

Mushroomer25 · Mar 17, 2015

Seems more like a character licensing deal than Nintendo actually moving talent into smartphone game development.

Squire · Mar 17, 2015

You could feed the entirety of a third-world country and still have leftovers with all the crow that is needed for the people that swore, for years, at every opportunity, that Nintendo would never ever go mobile.

KainXVIII · Mar 17, 2015

Yes, all Nintendo classics comes to Steam!

believe

Mike.83 · Mar 17, 2015

They should get working on a mobile version of Pokemon. A full game, just on your phone. I'd love that.

TheSlySoul · Mar 17, 2015

Not surprising because Nintendo teamed up with Philips in the 90's.

Fox_Mulder · Mar 17, 2015

Mokubba · Mar 17, 2015

At least Nintendo is no longer doomed

Shaanyboi · Mar 17, 2015

Keyser Soze said:

LOL

jooso said:
Give me virtual console or give me nothing.

VC games with virtual buttons? Fuck that noise. Have some standards...

jetsetrez · Mar 17, 2015

I wouldn't jump to conclusions yet. This may very well just be Nintendo licensing its characters to proven mobile properties like they've done with Puzzle and Dragons. I have a hard time believing it's going to be Nintendo's actual in-house talent making mobile games. The Verge is really bad about jumping to conclusions and posting dramatic, misleading headlines, especially when it comes to game stuff they are not well-versed in.

PreyingShark · Mar 17, 2015

Surprised it took this long.

Aequitas · Mar 17, 2015

If Nintendo gives us virtual console games on mobile I'll be pretty happy.

Dalius · Mar 17, 2015

I wonder if this means a real Mario games on a smartphone, or some crappy time-wasting puzzle game starring Nintendo characters. Maybe we'll see in 10 minutes

Tamanon · Mar 17, 2015

Pokemobile might shatter the charts.

TheGreatMightyPoo · Mar 17, 2015

Mushroomer25 said:
Seems more like a character licensing deal than Nintendo actually moving talent into smartphone game development.

No one cares about the facts, dude.

It's all she wrote.

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Nintendo Going Mobile: Smartphone Game Deal with DeNA [First Games Fall 2015]

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