Nintendo’s next two mobile games, which are based on the popular Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem franchises, will both be “free-to-start” apps, DeNA Chief Executive Isao Moriyasu told The Wall Street Journal.
… DeNA is the Tokyo-based mobile gaming studio assisting with the creation of Nintendo’s five smartphone titles, still on a planned trajectory for launch before March 2017.
Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem were both announced for iPhone and Android devices last month, and at that time, neither Nintendo nor DeNA would confirm what payment strategy would apply to the games. Nintendo’s Miitomo, their first app for mobile devices, debuted with a similar free-to-play model, where users could spend money via in-app purchases for various outfits for their Miitomo avatar.
At the moment it is unclear what type of in-app purchases either Fire Emblem or Animal Crossing might offer to players. With the announcement, it is clear Nintendo is going for the casual gaming demographic, who tend to be more open to multiple in-app purchases, over the hard-core gamer who would be willing to pay upfront for a game.
Barring any unforeseen delays, Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing should see a release before the end of the year.
