Is a ‘Legend of Zelda’ Mobile Game on the Way?
Taking The Legend of Zelda on the go with the Switch may not be the only way to enjoy the portable adventures of Link if the latest Nintendo smartphone rumors are true.
After the success found with Miitomo, Super Mario Run, and Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo will expand its mobile game offerings with a game based on Animal Crossing next. However, a new report from the Wall Street Journal indicated The Legend of Zelda may not be far behind a visit with Tom Nook.
There are no supported details on what The Legend of Zelda mobile game might play like, as we still don't even know much about the next confirmed game based on Animal Crossing. Though Fire Emblem Heroes remained firmly entrenched in the tactical role-playing game arena, Super Mario Run turned the fast-paced platformer into an endless runner. Nintendo has shown a willingness to experiment with its properties in the mobile space, as even the co-developed Pokemon Go took the familiar formula of capturing monsters in the wild in some interesting directions.
Of course, Nintendo's mobile game portfolio hasn't exactly been burning up the charts. While Super Mario Run did earn more than 78 million downloads on Apple's storefront, just four million of those were for the full paid version. Through March 2017, Nintendo's mobile ventures have only earned the company only $176 million, which has barely caused the company's stock to rise compared to the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch console.
Nintendo still seems committed to the mobile space though, with Animal Crossing to come (supposedly in the second half of 2017), and this new rumored Zelda title. A lot more people have smartphones than Nintendo consoles in their homes, and with these moves the Big N hopes to attract more casual fans in the hopes they'll be interested in purchasing a Switch or 3DS down the line.
It's possible we'll learn more about Nintendo's mobile plans at E3 2017 next month, though we're not holding our breath on any new Zelda developments. Nintendo has already indicated its presentations this year will focus solely on 2017's releases, meaning a potential Zelda for 2018 won't be unveiled until later in the 2017 fiscal year.
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