Nintendo Miitomo Release Date; Can Nintendo Win On a Social Media and Mobile Level?

By Mark Rollins
Miitomo
Miitomo, coming in March 2016. Nintendo

It is pretty clear that Nintendo has been waning for the past few years.  With their Wii and Wii U console just not as advanced as their Microsoft (Xbox One) and Sony (PS4) competitors, as well as the poor sales from the current gen Wii U, something big has to happen in order to get the company on the map again.  That something big isn't coming in the form of a new game like The Legend of Zelda Wii U, but rather from a new mobile/social media service known as Miitomo. The release date for the game/service has been announced, and it could become a hit. 

Phone Arena reports that Tatsumi Kimishima, Nintendo's president, has confirmed a March release date for the application Miitomo in a Japanese newspaper known as Mainichi Shimbun.  There is no specific release date other than that, and there is also no word on a price, but it will probably be for free. 

Miitomo isn't really a game per se, but it is a social media application that can utilize the Miis, the Avatar and animated emoji that has been in use since the birth of the Nintendo Wii.  The Nintendo Wii U took the Miis to the next level as it allowed the camera controller to be used to help create the face of the Mii based on the user, with some mixed results. 

In short, Miitomo is made to be more of a social application where people will be talking using their Mii characters, but honestly, Facebook is really already doing something like this without the cute characters.  It would appear that Nintendo wants to get a share in the mobile marketplace as well as the social media marketplace too.  iDigitialTimes predicts that Nintendo will use its Miitomo as a starting point so they can soon bring some of their intellectual properties to the mobile market.  One can easily imagine Mario and even Link from The Legend of Zelda going mobile as the phone suddenly becomes a new DS. 

Nintendo is working with a company known as DeNA so that free-to-play subscribers can "share information comfortably and securely".  After users create a Mii on this application, or presumably import one that they are already using on the Wii or Wii U, the user will answer a variety of questions that will lead to "communication starters" for real-world discussions.  Isao Moriyasu, CEO of Nintendo's partner DeNA, stated that "communicating with friends who look like your friends in real life is a distinctly different feeling from text-based communication". 

Getting people to talk is clearly part of Nintendo's plan to spread the word, and another part of Nintendo's plan is also to launch a new account service known as Nintendo Account.  This will work on Nintendo's hardware devices as well as Mobile and PC platforms. 

The March release date is actually a delay, and the reason for the delay of Miitomo until next spring has to do with what Kimishima says "to further improve the application and to optimize the overall smart device business". 

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories