Your favourite Nintendo game is now coming to smartphones


  • TECH
  • Monday, 26 Feb 2018

The race tracks frequented by Maria, Princess Peach and Toad have come from the Super Nintendo console to the mobile Nintendo Switch and are now on their way to your smartphone. — Nintendo/dpa

For over two decades, gamers have been taking Super Mario and his brother Luigi out for a spin in wild car chases – but only on consoles. Now, Nintendo is breaking with years of tradition and is bringing the much-loved Mario Kart to smartphones.

Still, fans will have to be a little patient, as Nintendo has only set a release date of late March 2019 for the game.

Nintendo has long insisted that its games are only available for use on its own consoles. But the rise of smartphones has forced the traditional Japanese company to change its views. A smartphone version of Super Mario was downloaded over 200 million times and has over 20 million monthly active users, according to Nintendo.

With the success of its new Switch console, Nintendo was able to leave behind its crisis of the past few years. The company has lifted sales forecasts for the device from 14 to 15 million for the fiscal year ending in March.

Still, even though the Switch can be used on the go as well as in front of the TV, Nintendo still wants to hold onto its older mobile console, the 3DS, as Nintendo boss Tatsumi Kimishima emphasised. That console should now be marketed as a device for those with a lighter wallet.

Nintendo is also making a new effort to bring its beloved characters to the cinema. A Super Mario animation film is being developed with Illumination, the studio behind the Minions franchise. A date has not yet been set for the film’s release. The previous Super Mario film from 1993 with human actors was widely panned by critics. — dpa

Subscribe now and receive FREE sooka plan for 1 month.
T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

US regulator looks to put Google under federal supervision, Washington Post says
Fibre optic cables should be considered 'critical infrastructure' in Africa, Google says
EU fines Meta 797 million euros over abusive practices benefiting Facebook Marketplace
ASML CEO says AI boom benefits the company
Spain's La Vanguardia joins the Guardian in leaving X, citing 'toxic content'
Analysis-Crypto industry pushes for policy sea change after Trump victory
EU says Booking must comply with Digital Markets Act
Samsung Electronics says it reaches preliminary wage deal with union
Trump’s victory could ease regulatory path for Musk’s robotaxi, but hurdles remain
Siemens to cut up to 5,000 jobs in automation business after downturn

Others Also Read