Nintendo to Release First iPhone Super Mario Game

Nintendo to Release First iPhone Super Mario Game
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Nintendo will release Super Mario Run worldwide for iPhone and iPad on Dec. 15 in U.S. time zones, a highly anticipated launch that has a high bar for success after this summer’s Pokemon Go phenomenon, according to Bloomberg. The first mobile edition starring one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters, will be free to download initially, and include an optional one-off payment of $9.99 to unlock all of the features. In addition to English and Japanese, Super Mario Run will be available in several other languages, Nintendo said in a statement.

The model of luring in players with a free version and then a one-time price is “a great strategy by Nintendo,“ said Neil Campling, an analyst at Northern Trust Capital Markets. Many successful mobile games, such as Supercell Oy’s Clash of Clans, which is also free but lets players buy “gems“ with real-world currency, have seen annual spending of $100 a year per gamer, he said. “To set a low incentive and then a low total cost when engaged could set Nintendo on a differentiated path, which ultimately could be a game changer,“ Campling said.

Super Mario Run’s pricing structure means players can feel like they’re getting a bargain, Campling said, since it’s about the same price as a one-month subscription to Netflix or Spotify and a fraction of the cost of a traditional game. Nintendo has said any anticipated impact from the new game is already included in its earnings forecast for the current fiscal period, and that Super Mario Run will also be introduced for Android-based devices at a later date.

Super Mario Run marks the first time Nintendo’s popular franchise is appearing on a smartphone. It will also beat Nintendo’s forthcoming home games console, the Switch, to market by several months. Nintendo is also planning to release mobile titles for its Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem franchises by March.