Miitomo: how will Nintendo's first smartphone game play out?

Nintendo has revealed details of its first mobile game, Miitomo, although its launch has been delayed. The 'freemium' title will include in-app purchases and is being created with mobile firm DeNA.

Speaking at a press event in Tokyo today, Nintendo's president Tatsumi Kimishima said the company will release five smartphone apps in total with DeNA by March 2017.

What is Miitomo?

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Details are scarce, but it seems players will be able to customise Mii avatars, and use them to chat to their friends' Miis about anything they choose. It will be free to download, but character add-ons will be available as in-app purchases.

What was the reaction?

Commentators have questioned whether this constitutes a game at all. Eurogamer describes Miitomo as appearing "like a cross between 3DS life sim Tomodachi Life and a traditional messaging system". The Wall Street Journal feels it "looks more like a social networking service than a shoot-'em-up".

Today's announcement has also disappointed some investors, who had hoped the company would be unveiling a game proper – in the style of an addictive and lucrative affair like Angry Birds or Candy Crush. The absence of Nintendo's iconic Mario has also deflated some on-lookers.

When does Miitomo come out?

Nintendo had promised to release its first smartphone game before the end of this year, but now says it will be launched in March 2016. According to Kimishima, Miitomo was delayed to allow the company to promote it more effectively, starting after the busy holiday season.

Will it help Nintendo's profits?

Today's announcement comes just 24 hours after Nintendo posted a 20 per cent drop in net profit for April to September. Shares in Nintendo fell nine per cent after today's press conference, as investors reacted to the launch delay.

Shares in DeNA Co, the mobile gaming operator with which Nintendo has teamed up its smartphone bid, plunged 15 per cent.

But commentators believe Miitomo could still be a hit once it arrives. Osamu Kamada, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Securities, predicts that Nintendo could generate $50m in operating profits a year from just the one smartphone game.