Nintendo’s Switch 2 era will continue to place great importance on mobile games and apps for IP expansion, according to CEO 

At Nintendo’s latest shareholder Q&A held on February 4, President Shuntaro Furukawa provided further information on the Nintendo Switch 2 console, which is set for release this year. Among the queries, Furukawa addressed how the Switch 2 will deal with competition from smartphones as gaming devices. 

For Nintendo, with its strong family friendly image, the company’s colorful and accessible consoles have often served as children’s first introduction into the world of video games. Of course, Nintendo hardware is still very relevant to young gamers (after all, Switch consoles are still near the top of Japanese children’s Christmas lists). However, a questioner at the shareholders’ meeting suggested that children today are more likely to have their first ever interaction with a game on a smartphone, and wondered how Nintendo plans to tackle this situation. 

In response, Furukawa highlighted the successes of Nintendo’s various mobile games and apps, noting that combined downloads as of the end of September 2024 exceeded 900 million. Mobile games featuring well-known Nintendo IP include Fire Emblem Heroes, Mario Kart Tour, Super Mario Run, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Complete, and the Niantic-operated Pikmin Bloom. He adds that Nintendo is continuing to develop new mobile apps. 

Addressing the original question, Furukawa notes “As you pointed out, it is true that smartphones have recently replaced our consoles as people’s first experience of games.” However, he reassures that Nintendo are always considering new ways to create for and utilize smartphones. 

Referring to the October 2024 launch of Nintendo Music as well, Furukawa explains “We are taking advantage of the widespread usage of smartphones to create opportunities for people to come into contact with our game worlds and music outside of our consoles.”

 Nintendo also aims to continue to use such “beyond the console” methods to attract an even bigger playerbase to the Switch 2. As Furukawa comments, Nintendo’s theme park attractions, official stores, collaborations with other companies and smartphone apps/games all raise non-console gamers’ awareness and recognition of iconic Nintendo IPs like Mario and Donkey Kong. Nintendo will continue to use this approach to attract even non-gamers to the Switch 2. “Even as we move into the Nintendo Switch 2 era, it is vital to expand our points of contact with customers outside of game consoles, and smartphones play a very big role in this,” Furukawa adds.