Nintendo's first official iOS game, Miitomo, made its long-awaited debut in the Japanese App Store yesterday.

As promised, the company's first foray into smartphone apps is a free-to-play social title in which players can create and customise their own avatars, known as Miis, which can communicate with other Miis on the social network.
Miitomo

Apart from the social angle, the main incentive to play is to earn points which can be exchanged for discounts on console and handheld games, console themes and other rewards through the company's new loyalty program, My Nintendo, which also launched in Japan alongside the game.

MacRumors sister site Touch Arcade has posted its first impressions on Miitomo, which is currently limited to the Japanese App Store but expected to roll out to most countries by the end of the month.

If you simply can't wait, Touch Arcade has also posted a helpful guide explaining how to download games from other regions.

Nintendo has promised more games for smartphones, some of which are expected to be pay-to-download. Registrations have also gone live for Nintendo's new multiplatform account system, Nintendo Account, which connects PC, Nintendo hardware and smartphone users, and enables the transfer of game data between mobile and console games.

Update: Nintendo has announced that Miitomo launches in the U.S. and "several other countries" on March 31.

Top Rated Comments

adamneer Avatar
120 months ago
How is anyone supposed to play this game while timidly holding both their hands over their mouth and giggling?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iLoveDeveloping Avatar
120 months ago
Well, that was a waste of time for Nintendo. You can earn points to get discounts on physical games and consoles?! God they really don't get it, do they... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Narcaz Avatar
120 months ago
Their approach is so bad. Even if they still want to continue their "outdated" hardware business, they could at least throw a bone to their loyal customers. Port a few selected SNES/N64 games to iOS/TV OS, sell your own special MFI Bluetooth controller and make a ridiculous high profit without killing your own consoles. They could even get away with the subscription model, but no. Miitomo? Seriously?!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
120 months ago
Mii not downloading this...

There now follows an extremely obvious post stating extremely obvious things:

They should release everything they own on Android and iOS except titles for their most recent, currently-selling devices/consoles. It would be retro-gaming heaven, a promotional super-win, and they'd make a big pile of money too. With the performance of mobile devices they could probably just make an emulation app/container that would work for almost everything that isn't one of their current devices.
They already do... on the 3DS. You can buy NES, SNES, Gameboy games, as well as the occasional classic Sega port. If you were lucky enough to get an Ambassador 3DS you also have about 10 GBA games. On top of that it can play any DS or 3DS cartridge so there's a load of content available for it.

Why won't Apple let me install iOS on the Galaxy S7?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
120 months ago
"Oh, you wanted a port of any Pokémon version? Here, Miitomo" —Nintendo
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
120 months ago
Their approach is so bad. Even if they still want to continue their "outdated" hardware business, they could at least throw a bone to their loyal customers. Port a few selected SNES/N64 games to iOS/TV OS, sell your own special MFI Bluetooth controller and make a ridiculous high profit without killing your own consoles. They could even get away with the subscription model, but no. Miitomo? Seriously?!
Wouldn't their "loyal customers" be loyal and already own their hardware and games?
[doublepost=1458217232][/doublepost]
Well, that was a waste of time for Nintendo. You can earn points to get discounts on physical games and consoles?! God they really don't get it, do they... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Let's try and stop this early. They're not doing what *you* want them to do, but what they're doing is working.

http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Best_selling_game_franchises
http://time.com/3850264/nintendo-sales-wii-u-3ds-universal-studios/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/12/08/nintendo-profits-triple-as-amiibos-bring-in-1-billion-in-revenue-4978231/
http://arstechnica.co.uk/gaming/2015/07/nintendo-records-a-surprising-profit-with-strong-software-and-amiibo-sales/

(But yes they've had some poorly performing products, and some outstanding ones like the Wii, DS, 3DS in recent years. The Wii U on the other hand... ehhh)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
iPhone 12 Made in India

Trump Tells Tim Cook to Stop Building iPhones in India

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:21 am PDT by
President Donald Trump has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to halt the company's manufacturing expansion in India, in a potential disruption of Apple's plan to shift iPhone production away from China. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump said during his state visit to Qatar, according to Bloomberg. "He is building all over India." "They [India] have offered us a deal where...
apple music

Apple Music Gets New Transfer Tool to Make Switching From Spotify Easier

Wednesday May 14, 2025 5:17 pm PDT by
Apple this week introduced a new feature designed to allow prospective Apple Music users to import their saved music and playlists from third-party music services to Apple Music. The feature is either in an expanded testing phase or it has started rolling out, and it is available in Australia and New Zealand according to an Apple Support document. Signs of the transfer option first surfaced...
maxresdefault

Here's the First Real-World Look at Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:52 am PDT by
The first videos of Apple's CarPlay Ultra experience are now available, providing a never-before-seen look at the long-anticipated iPhone-linked infotainment software. British automaker Aston Martin today shared the first video of Apple's CarPlay Ultra experience in-action, followed by a detailed walk-through of the CarPlay Ultra system on Top Gear's YouTube channel, which provides the...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.5 With New Wallpaper, Screen Time Changes, Carrier Satellite Support for iPhone 13 and More

Monday May 12, 2025 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, the fifth updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 come a little over a month after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The iOS 18.5 update has a...
fortnite apple logo 2

Epic Resubmits Fortnite to U.S. App Store After Not Hearing From Apple for 120+ Hours

Wednesday May 14, 2025 1:01 pm PDT by
On Friday, Epic Games submitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, and since then, we've been waiting to see if Apple would approve the game and allow it back on the iPhone and the iPad. There's been no word from Apple so far, but Epic Games opted to pull its first App Store review request, and has now resubmitted Fortnite. Fortnite leaker Shiina shared the news, with the information reposted by...