Miitomo: Nintendo Opens Registration For Its First Smartphone Game

Nintendo fans eagerly awaiting the company’s first foray into the world of smartphone gaming can now preregister to be among the first to play Miitomo when the game is finally released next month.

Nintendo describes Miitomo as “a social experience that uses Nintendo’s Mii characters to engage friends in a lighthearted, playful and welcoming social setting.” Preregistration is now open for users in 16 countries around the globe, including the U.S., the U.K. and of course Japan.

Nintendo is partnering with Japanese mobile gaming company DeNA to produce a series of five smartphone games and while Miitomo won’t feature any of the company’s iconic videogame characters, it has confirmed its second smartphone game will.

The company has also revealed a couple of more details about the game, which will see players use their Mii character (3D avatars players can customize to look like themselves) to interact in a virtual environment, with the company describing it as “a new way to bring you and your friends together like never before.”

The company says that the Mii characters will also speak, “anything you or your friends layabout themselves.” Players will also be able to take and share photos with friends. Nintendo has not announced a specific release date beyond March, with the game available to download for free on both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Nintendo’s most recent set of financial results show that it is in a state of limbo with hardware sales declining and without a blockbuster software title to boost sales — even during the lucrative holiday season. The company is set to unveil a new console — code-named NX — later this year but that is unlikely to go on sale until 2017, which means Nintendo will be hoping its smartphone efforts pay off.