Nintendo continues to struggle in finding a strong foothold, due in no small part to slowing sales of the Wii U. And while the company has recently admitted to doing a less than stellar job of educating the public about its new system, Nintendo may be looking to find other avenues to attract potential customers. According to The Japan Times (via Polygon), Nintendo has already started seeking out mobile developers to bring apps to the Wii U.
Based on the report, Nintendo has allegedly offered up some type of "conversion software" to app developers, encouraging publishing of mobile games on the Wii U. Not a far stretch, considering the touch screen, tablet-like nature of the console's GamePad. More than likely, Nintendo is providing developers with an easier way to port mobile games from platforms like iOS and Android.
According to The Times, Nintendo hopes offering popular mobile games on the Wii U will drive sales of the struggling console. Attracting the ever-growing mobile market back to a console could prove profitable, especially if those sales lead to renewed interest in Nintendo's first-party titles. Nintendo posted a $366 million operating loss for the fiscal year ending in March.
Granted, there are no details provided on the business relationship Nintendo is offering mobile app developers. Steady markets like the App Store, and even emerging platforms like Ouya, are attractive for small creators, and it's difficult to say how alluring the struggling Wii U may seem to a developer without knowing the business arrangement.
Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark.
Source : ign[dot]com
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