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Report: First Nintendo Mobile App Will Be Mario Kart TV
In January, we reported that Nintendo was planning on moving into the mobile space, but not with its back catalog. At the year-end investor briefing, the company has shared additional details about what that will look like.
According to analyst David Gibson, who is attending the briefing, the company will release a mobile app that pairs with Mario Kart 8. The Mario Kart TV app will be able to access saved highlight videos and rankings. Release is planned before the end of the current fiscal year (March 31, 2015).
Update: Here's what the Mario Kart TV app will look like, as shown in Iwata's slides.
[Source: David Gibson on Twitter]
Our Take
This is the safest play for Nintendo, but it won't hook any new players or reach a broader audience. This move caters to those who are already customers, whereas the company has stated a desire to woo an audience with mobile and convert them to console buyers or make them aware of new games.
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