Nintendo’s iconic character Mario won’t be relying on smartphones as his primary platform, according to Shigeru Miyamoto, the celebrated Nintendo designer. In an interview with Variety, Miyamoto said that the company’s future strategy is to create a “hardware and software integrated gaming experience.” He cited control intuitiveness as a key factor that makes smartphone development challenging, explaining that it’s hard to translate the Nintendo hardware experience to mobile devices.
While Miyamoto’s remarks don’t come as a surprise, it’s worth noting that mobile games like Super Mario Run and Dr. Mario World have struggled to match the success of Nintendo’s console titles like Mario Kart 8 for Wii U and Switch, which have grossed over $3 billion. However, it’s important to note that Miyamoto did not address other Nintendo mobile properties like Animal Crossing Pocket Camp and Fire Emblem Heroes, which have been successful in their own right.
