Nintendo’s Official Store App now available on iOS and Android

Nintendo has made a significant move by launching its first official store app on iOS, marking a shift from its previous stance on the iPhone. The app, called the Nintendo Store, allows fans to easily browse and purchase a wide range of products, including Switch consoles, accessories, and both physical and digital games.

Unlike many other apps, the Nintendo Store is available for free on the App Store and does not include any in-app purchases. This decision was likely made to avoid giving Apple a 30-percent cut on digital goods sold through the app. While physical products such as consoles and cartridges are exempt from Apple’s commission structure, digital games would fall under it.

The primary function of the app is to serve as a catalog for browsing products and managing a wish list. Any digital or physical purchases made through the app will redirect users to Safari or their default browser, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase system.

In addition to shopping, the app offers features such as keeping up with the latest news from the world of Nintendo and allowing users to sign in with their Nintendo Account to check their Switch activity. Users can even access legacy data from the 3DS and Wii U era prior to 2020.

While the app is not meant to be an “app marketplace” like the Epic Games Store or AltStore, it is specifically designed for purchasing games to install on Nintendo devices, as well as other hardware and accessories. This move by Nintendo would have been unthinkable in the past, as the company once viewed Apple’s platform as a competitor rather than a collaborator.

Nintendo’s reluctance to embrace the iPhone stemmed from its desire to maintain control over its flagship game franchises, such as Mario and Zelda. The company believed that these games should be played on hardware designed by Nintendo to preserve the “Nintendo essence.” This philosophy aligns with Apple’s approach of controlling the entire user experience, from hardware to software.

Despite its initial hesitation, Nintendo began to explore the mobile market in 2015 through a partnership with the Japanese developer DeNA to release mobile titles on the iPhone. This move was more of a marketing strategy to introduce iPhone gamers to Nintendo’s iconic characters and draw them into the Nintendo ecosystem.

Over the years, Nintendo has released several mobile titles, including popular games like Fire Emblem Heroes, Mario Kart Tour, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. However, the company’s focus has shifted back to its own hardware, with the president confirming that future Mario games will not be developed for mobile platforms.

The new Nintendo Store app reflects this mindset, serving as a gateway into Nintendo’s world rather than a complete reinvention of it. While Nintendo is not fully embracing iOS as a platform, the app allows fans to browse and purchase products from Apple devices while keeping gameplay experiences on Nintendo’s own hardware. Can you transform the following sentence?