Nintendo is reportedly working to modify their Wii U gaming console to work with third party smartphone apps. The struggling video game giant is said to be banking on the idea that this will help drive console sales according to anonymous sources as reported by The Japan Times.
The idea it seems is that increased access via smartphones will help generate sales of popular titles on the Wii U. What's more, the report points out that Nintendo is also focused on developing new software internally.
Nintendo recently posted a net profit of 7.1 billion yen ($71 million) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 - falling well below the company's forecast of 17 billion yen ($142 million). Additionally, Nintendo announced a full year operating loss of 36.4 billion yen ($366.4 million) due largely in part to poor sales of the Wii U. The operating loss is the second in a row for Mario and company.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently announced a number of hit titles were due out for the Wii U starting this summer and leading into next year. It's good news for Nintendo and gamers alike but pending consoles from Nintendo's two largest rivals look to rain on its already damp parade.
Sony announced the PlayStation 4 at a media event back in February and Microsoft is planning a similar reveal event later this month. Not much is really known about that the Xbox event has in store but we expect to actually see what the console will look like and get a glimpse of Call of Duty: Ghosts, if nothing else. Both consoles are expected to launch in the US in time for the holidays.