Nintendo To Release Free Mini-Games For Mobile Devices?

Jan 28, 2014 10:08 AM EST | Matt Mercuro

In an effort to turn the company around, Nintendo will soon announce plans to release games for smartphone devices to help get people interested in the company again.

As reported by Japanese newspaper Nikkei, within the next year Nintendo will release trailers for new games and "free mini-games" for smartphones.

Nintendo has adamantly avoided making any gaming content for smartphones, but sometime during 2014 iOS and Android users will likely be able to access the mini-games and trailers, according to Nikkei.

Those who access and like the "free mini-game" will then be able to access the actual game for their Nintendo devices.

Nintendo could announce the plan at its quarterly financial briefing, which has been set for this week.

The company hasn't said much about its new management strategy either, though most analyst feel it will have to spend a lot of money to try making the Wii U's successor.

Nintendo is also expected to become a more efficient company as well, which would mean marketing its characters like Mario and Donkey Kong better.

No one is expecting the Kyoto-based company to move to a more online-based format either. Some media outlets feel that Nintendo should make its catalogue available through an online subscription service to compete with other companies.

Microsoft and Sony will launch a launch a cloud-based streaming service by summer 2014, which will allow users to play the same game on a number of different platforms.

"Online is big and Nintendo is notorious for not having a great online system," said Jean Snow, a Tokyo-based gaming guru, according to Reuters.

Earlier this year, Nintendo cut its forecast for the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2014.

The Wii U is expected to sell just 2.8 million units, down from a projection of 9 million, and the 3DS is now expected to sell 13.5 million units, which is down from 18 million.

Nintendo budgeted 70 billion yen ($684 million) for "research and development" in 2014.

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