Super Mario Run will be available for Android devices starting in March, Nintendo confirmed Wednesday. While the Japanese gaming company has not specified an exact date for the Android release, users can currently pre-register and be notified when the game becomes available.
To pre-register, users need only search the Super Mario Run title in the Google Play Store and select the option to be notified on the game’s landing page.
#SuperMarioRun will arrive on Android in March. You can pre-register in Google Play to be notified when it launches! https://t.co/u4H9bxVi9R pic.twitter.com/Hd5uzRcYcK
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 19, 2017
Super Mario Run launched exclusively on iOS in December 2016, much to the chagrin of Android users, who did not understand why there wasn’t availability across mobile platforms at launch. Nintendo has not given a definitive answer on why the iOS launch came first. However, games and other mobile applications typically release on iOS first and then Android due to the fragmentation amid devices made by the many different Android manufacturers.
Many eyes will be watching as Super Mario Run rolls out onto Android. While the game’s release was met with considerable excitement from nostalgic fans, there was also heavy criticism. The game racked up over 40 million downloads in just four days after launch, but many users were disappointed to find a $10 charge to unlock the rest of the game after a few levels of gameplay. Nintendo stocks dropped soon after the game’s release and Super Mario Run’s reign among the top 25 highest grossing mobile games on iOS was short-lived.
Analysts also believe the iOS launch was a test run to see how the market reacted to Super Mario Run, before expanding distribution. Many expect Super Mario Run will garner significantly more downloads on Android, but users may be less inclined to purchase the full game.
SuperData Research CEO Joost van Dreunen expects Nintendo may be forced to lower the price of Super Mario Run to appeal to Android users and that the game’s greatest earning potential may be found following a price drop
“There’s just no reason to hold on to that ten bucks. If they can lower it to six and get another 10 million purchases they just made $60 million,” Joost told iDigitalTimes in December.
