Nintendo Mobile Apps Pass 980 Million Cumulative Downloads

During today's financial results briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa shared an update on the company's mobile apps.

The headline figure is that cumulative downloads across Nintendo's different apps have now passed 980 million. The titles are available in 164 countries and regions.

Furukawa said that mobile apps give people around the world a first way to get familiar with Nintendo's characters. He noted that the apps reach places that are hard to reach through the dedicated video game business. Because smartphones are part of everyday life, the company sees them as a way to introduce Nintendo's characters and play experiences to people with limited prior exposure to Nintendo.

Some Nintendo apps have been shut down over the years. Mario Kart Tour was the most recent, closing at the end of September.

Super Mario Run started Nintendo's mobile push in 2016. Fire Emblem Heroes, released in 2017, has been the company's most successful app in terms of revenue.