Nintendo is notoriously protective of its software, and its gallery of famous characters has seldom appeared on other company's devices. The company finally came around to unleashing Pokemon and Mario characters for smartphones and other mobile devices, looking to reach new fans whom it could convert to consumers of its own gaming machines and software.
This strategy has extended beyond screens
. Nintendo is spending 60 billion yen ($550 million) to create a theme park inside Universal Studios Japan in Osaka that features Mario and other well-known characters. Doors are scheduled to open in summer 2020, possibly with perks for visitors who bring the Switch with them.
New Pokemon games help Nintendo escape the hardware trap - Nikkei Asian Review