Nintendo CEO Believes One Major Mobile Hit Could Expand Business

Shuntaro Furukawa, the incoming CEO for Nintendo starting in June, wants Nintendo to expand further into the mobile business and believes one major hit could get them that foothold.

In an interview with Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Furukawa explained that Nintendo has not quite gotten deep into the mobile business, a thought echoing outgoing president Tatsumi Kimishima's comments about mobile not turning a satisfactory profit yet. Furukawa, however, believes this could all turn around with a single big game like Pokémon Go.

"The idea that something will emerge that transforms into something big, in the same manner as game consoles, is the defining motive of the Nintendo business," Furukawa told Nikkei.

Kimishima added "Pokémon Go, which transformed the story and gameplay for the smartphone, became a huge realization." Pokémon Go, while technically a Nintendo property, primarily benefits developers Niantic and The Pokémon Company, of which Nintendo is one-third owner. 

Both Kimishima and the late Satoru Iwata primarily concentrated on mobile titles as a means to advertise Nintendo's IPs. As signaled by the company's partnership with Cygames and production of an original mobile title Dragalia Lost, Furukawa is looking to expand the mobile side of the business to more than just advertising. He does clarify there are no games like Pokémon Go on the docket, but he hopes to change that.

Nintendo also has Mario Kart Tour on the docket for mobile games, but hasn't detailed the game yet. That title is being made in conjunction with DeNA, Nintendo's usual mobile game partner. Nintendo's first mobile app, Miitomo, is shutting down next week after a lack of activity.

[Source: Nikkei via GamesIndustry.biz]

 

Our Take
It sounds like Furukawa wants to make a major play for the mobile market. Balancing software is a difficult prospect, but it sounds like he is up to the task.

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