Nintendo's Trying to Make Super Mario Run as Popular as Pokemon Go

Super Mario Run releases later this year, and when it does, Nintendo hopes it becomes a popular mobile hit like Pokemon Go. In an interview with Bloomberg, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima talked about how Pokemon Go's level of success is a driving point for the company's next mobile game.

"There's no doubt that more people are using smartphones to play games," Kimishima said. "And as this time we're using Mario, that's a very important intellectual property for us. And that's what Miyamoto's team is working on now: making sure it spreads out just as quickly as Pokemon Go."

Kimishima went on to mention how more than 20 million people have registered to receive notifications when Super Mario Run releases. The Nintendo president also reiterated that Super Mario Run is a game you can download for free, play a portion of it, and then pay a fixed price if you want to access the full game.

"[A]nd then play it over and over as many times as you want without having to pay anything extra," he continued. "And that should give peace of mind that kids can play it. And we're hoping that will help it become more popular."

When asked about Nintendo's philosophy about smartphone games, Kimishima talked about how releasing games on mobile devices helps with their other businesses, including hardware and software for Wii U, 3DS, and Switch. The full interview goes deeper into Nintendo's business, virtual reality, and more. You can read it here.

In a recent financial presentation, Kimishima announced Super Mario Run will be available in around 150 counties and added that Nintendo will announce pricing "at a later date." As for the game, we got an opportunity to speak to Miyamoto, who said Super Mario Run retains "the core essence of what makes a Mario game a Mario game."