The future is looking bright for Nintendo’s Amiibo figurines, after the publisher revealed that it may extend support for the NFC-powered collectibles to third-party developers at some point in the future. Currently, that support is limited to first-party games, with the likes of Super Smash Bros., Hyrule Warriors and Mario Kart 8 already accommodating the Skylanders-like peripherals. But in an interview with IGN, Nintendo of America Licensing Manager Damon Baker hinted that other studios and independent devs have expressed interest in the recently revealed add-ons.
Here’s what Baker had to say on the matter:
“We’re having those conversations and we’re still early on because Amiibo isn’t even going to launch until later this month. We’re excited to see how that pans out but there’s a ton of interest from our third-party partners and we’re looking at what makes sense in terms of business models and levels of integration. There are really creative ideas that are coming through and we are working towards some opportunities for next year.”
Essentially, it all comes down to a question of integration. We understand that Amiibo figurines won’t necessarily be limited to one game, with Baker revealing that the Super Smash Bros. mascots will be compatible with Hyrule Warriors, unlocking in-game bonuses and weapons in the process. How this will pan out across first-party and third-party titles remains to be seen, but if Nintendo rolls out incentives for players such as the crossover between Smash and Warriors, then the publisher could be on the cusp of a bankable fortune when the figurines hit the market in a couple of weeks.
Besides, if the publisher’s Amiibos reach a fraction of the success that Activision has managed with Skylanders, then the sky really is the limit.
The first selection of Amiibo figurines will launch in tandem with Super Smash Bros. Wii U when the title arrives on November 21st in North America.
Published: Nov 10, 2014 09:27 am