Nintendo's first mobile game Miitomo will go live in Japan on March 17, and that means it probably won't be long until it lands on U.S. shores.
While there's no firm release date for a western rollout yet, the free-to-play, social-based title is expected to launch across the globe sometime in March as well, not to mention that preregistration already went live in February.
For now, the video game company made the official announcement of Miitomo for Japan via Twitter.
スマホアプリ『Miitomo』の配信開始日が、2016年3月17日(木)に決定しました。なお、事前登録については3月16日の昼12時に受付終了しますので、お早めにご登録ください。 https://t.co/YbsKcr8qM7 pic.twitter.com/bTATmK1qHi
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) March 11, 2016
For the uninitiated, Miitomo is more like equal parts game and social app. Players create their Mii avatars and interact with other characters that their friends or anyone else made. The in-game avatars themselves can even communicate with other by their own free will.
The Mii characters also have the ability to send messages that ask various questions and divulge secrets of their respective owners. What's more, players can upload images of their avatars in different positions and places called Miifotos via the photography mode.
On top of those, players can earn Miitomo coins by just playing with the game or in-app purchases. They can use this currency to avail costumes and other customizations to personalize their characters.
However, it should be noted that Miitomo requires a stable Internet connection and a Nintendo Account to play.
Nintendo created this smartphone game in collaboration with DeNa. It's one out of the five titles that the company plans to develop by 2017. Unlike Miitomo, the other anticipated games are believed to stray from a communication-centered theme, featuring a popular Nintendo character instead.
On an interesting note, Hideki Konno, who is one of the main developers of the wildly successful Mario Kart and Super Mario series, oversees the production of these mobile games, so it's a safe bet to assume that they are all titles worth waiting for.
To be fully prepared to get in on the action once Miitomo hits the shelves, we have a nifty and comprehensive guide on how to register for a Nintendo Account.
