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New Zelda, Pokemon Games Headed To Mobile - Report

A new report claims Nintendo is bringing the famous RPG series to mobile devices.

38 Comments

Nintendo is bringing another one of its major franchises to mobile, it seems.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the company will launch a Legend of Zelda mobile game, while the report also claims The Pokemon Company is planning another card-based title for mobile devices.

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Now Playing: GS News Update: The Legend of Zelda Coming To Mobiles?!

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Sources told WSJ that a version of Zelda is set to launch after the release of the Animal Crossing mobile game, which the site said is due out in the second half of the year. However, the sources said nothing is locked down as of yet in terms of timing. Officially, Nintendo has said that the Animal Crossing mobile title will be released sometime before April 2018, following a delay.

Nintendo's mobile game partner, Japanese game developer DeNA, is working on the untitled Zelda mobile game. Nintendo and DeNA declined to comment when approached by WSJ.

There is no word yet on what kind of gameplay the Zelda title for mobile devices would offer or what it might cost. Nintendo's Super Mario Run title is an auto-runner that is free to start but costs $10 to unlock all the stages.

For years and years, Nintendo said it would not bring its franchises to mobile devices. That stance later changed in March 2015 when Nintendo laid out a plan to make mobile games. Nintendo has now released Miitomo, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Super Mario Run, with Animal Crossing on the way, on top of the rumored Zelda title.

Considering that Zelda is one of Nintendo's biggest and best-known franchises, it's no surprise that the company would leverage the series as part of its mobile game endeavors.

As WSJ points out, the mobile games haven't been a big hit commercially, however, bringing in less than ¥20 billion ($176.4 million) for Nintendo covering the fiscal year ended March 30.

Also in WSJ's report today is news that The Pokemon Company, which Nintendo owns a 32 percent piece of, is making a new card-based Pokemon game for mobile devices. This information was sourced to a pair of unnamed sources, with The Pokemon Company declining to comment.

This game would follow the massively popular Pokemon Go and the Trading Card Game that is already available on mobile devices.

What would you like to see from the rumored new Zelda title and the next Pokemon card-based game? Let us know in the comments below!

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Avatar image for deshyznit
Deshyznit

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Edited By Deshyznit

It sickens me that Nintendo hasn't yet come out with the open word pokemon game we've all been wishing for since we were children. I geuss Nintendo hates money cuz me and millions of others would pay wut ever for a 3D open world console pokemon game that's kinda like Zelda. now with the virtual reality technology that kinda game would be amazing. I dnt kno why they haven't done it yet but I'm sick of waiting stop waisting time with these mobile games and give us what we really want Nintendo.

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Jaxith

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@deshyznit: Personally, I never distinguished between open world games and any other game as a child, so I can't say it's the kind of game I was hoping for back then. Now as an adult, I question the point of it. I'd play and probably love such a game if they made it, sure, but with how fantastically Sun and Moon came together, I really feel like the series is already on the right track.

Open world seems to be the "in" thing these days, but looking at it from a broad perspective I honestly don't see how open world inherently relates to a better Pokemon game. I'm sure it's be cool, but I don't really feel like I need it if the next main series game pushes things as well as the last two gens.

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Stelios

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Isn't Zelda a mobile game already?

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deactivated-5e90a3763ea91

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I think what a lot of you here are forgetting is that mobile =/= games you play elsewhere.

Mobile games are typically not going to be as polished or as intricate as games you buy for a game console or handheld or your PC or Mac. Every once in a great while something might come along with a bit more depth or better polish, but mobile games are just meant to be a quick distraction, some entertainment when you're bored and have some time to kill.

It makes less sense when developers port traditional video games over to mobile. The controls are not there for it, games like that probably drain your smartphone battery life like crazy, and most people probably can't get in bite-sized chunks of a game like Mirror's Edge or Final Fantasy.

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dotWithShoes

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Zelda.. an RPG? Since when?

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imajinn

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Zelda on Mobile. As if SMR was something other than over hyped. Cringe!

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wr3ckloose_

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its already a mobile game. dont see what the fuss is all about.

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D_

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Gross.

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Dark_Matters

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Oh yay. A card-based Pokemon game.

I thought the Mario game was massively overrated, and Pokemon Go was an amazing idea that just turned into a gimmick.

I would say I hoped that they did Zelda right, but I know for a fact they won't.

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silv3rst0rm

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Don't buy into the hype.

Look what they did with super mario run.

Mobile games are mobile and will be nowhere close to what these classic titles were/are on "real" gaming consoles...

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Dreadborne

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If it is a full release Pokemon game, I'm in.

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Noshotskill

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@dreadborne: "the report also claims The Pokemon Company is planning another card-based title for mobile devices."

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Dreadborne

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@noshotskill: "the report also claims The Pokemon Company is planning another card-based title for mobile devices."

I read the article and I understand that until it is confirmed it is just another rumor, I stand by my comment.

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a687947

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@dreadborne: while that would be pretty great, I think I'd rather see one that takes full advantage of the Switch

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Dreadborne

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@a687947: That would be the only thing that would remotely have me interested in the Switch.

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LTJohnnyRico

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Its about time we got some good mobile Games ... the world needs more good mobile Games !!

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snugglebear

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When will they get on the ball and do Animal Crossing mobile like they've been saying they would?

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Litchie

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@snugglebear: If you'd read the text above you, you'd see this:

"Officially, Nintendo has said that the Animal Crossing mobile title will be released sometime before April 2018, following a delay."

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snugglebear

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@Litchie: I can't be expected to read every sentence in a small series of other sentences. Reading's for suckers.

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deactivated-6793e8ba0e8bf

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@snugglebear: School's for fools!

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Flen15

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I wouldn't mind a Granblue Fantasy clone with either one of those. I wouldn't expect that though.

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PlaystationZone

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Us ring there switch money to make mobile games. They should spend money make more switch games.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@playstationzone: Exactly !! What this guy said !! I have no idea what is being said but that being said ... I'm in !!

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Dark_Matters

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@ltjohnnyrico: There us ring Switch money. More games Switch money make, geez.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@Dark_Matters: Well .. now you've put it like that .. how could i refuse !

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twztid13

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Seems like they are wasting money that could go toward hiring more people for their development studios, so they can get some of the top tier games out for their main platform, at least this year (but I bet oddessy gets delayed, honestly). It would be different if they had more than just a single great game, that is actually built for their older console. They need games that were built for their system that sacrificed power for a smorgasbord of "features", to prove it was a rational decision, to even fans that bought their ideas. Maybe not, but I will certainly sell mine if it comes up on 1 year (or feels like it's collecting dust) & no Metroid, Mario, Kid Icarus, etc, built for Switch. Still playing zelda & several ps4 exclusives that are keeping busy now, but I'm not making the same mistake I did with Wii (which was worth nothing when they finally admitted they were abandoning it). Didn't buy a Wii u so some ports of those top games would be nice, but they would only choose games I have no interest in, no doubt.

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Noshotskill

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@twztid13: Nintendo is partnered with DeNA for mobile games. Nintendo themselves does not make the games and that contract was signed 2 years before the Switch came out. You aren't missing out on anything in terms of Nintendo using resources elsewhere.

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Litchie

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Edited By Litchie

I look forward to not play their small crappy mobile versions of their good series. Even if Mario Run is one of the better phone games, it's still a small crappy phone game. Nintendo going mobile is probably good for their business, but I personally couldn't care less about it.

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Risingdawn

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Hey Nintendo, here's a crazy thought, how about bringing a Fire Emblem, Pokemon or Animal Crossing out for your Switch console.

You remember the Switch right? It's that hybrid console you brought out with one game and a port...

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Jaxith

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@risingdawn: They already confirmed two different Fire Emblem games for the Switch months ago. A Warriors spinoff and a new main series game. Not to mention the other games being made for the Switch.

There's no need to be so hostile. They're working on things already.

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IanNottinghamX

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Edited By IanNottinghamX

Again. Eddie..read this if you get the chance. I want you to say it with me. The Legend of Zelda is not an rpg series. The Legend of Zelda is has and always was an action adventure game series. Not 1 Zelda game ever had stat progression or anything rpg like in it. This stuff really isnt hard to research even if you dont play the games!

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Flen15

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@IanNottinghamX: Zelda 2 had experience levels and stat progression.

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IanNottinghamX

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Edited By IanNottinghamX

@Flen15: 1 game out of how many zelda games? all games take aspects from genres but that doesnt change the core of what Zelda 2 was which was action adventure. You can have a sports game with rpg elements(ie: WWE 2k series) doesnt make it a damn rpg.

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Tiwill44

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Ah yes, Zelda, my favorite RPG series! It's right up there with Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid and Half-Life. They are all very good RPGs indeed! I sure know a lot about video games!

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somberfox

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The Zelda game will probably be one of those self-playing autobattle hack & slash RPGs.

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TylerGamer84

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@somberfox: Yeah, I'm guessing an idle/tapper or something like PH that plays by swiping the screen.

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LouiXIII

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Smart move

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