'Miitomo' Release Date, News & Update: Nintendo's First Smartphone App Has a Million Users in Japan

Nintendo’s first smartphone app “Miitomo” is reportedly making it big in Japan, and is currently running top rank among the public.

“Miitomo” is basically not much of a game – but is instead a simplified but monetized social network, reports Android Authority. Nintendo said that it has been downloaded by more than one million users in as early as three days since its launch in Japan last week.

In fact, “Miitomo,” which is not a messaging app, has already surpassed Japan’s top direct messaging app “Line” on the Japanese iOS store, reports Time. “Line” and “Miitomo” are two different apps, but basically they act as mobile hubs for people, notes Forbes.

“Miitomo” users design a personal “Mii,” which is essentially a cartoon version or avatar that will represent them in game. Users can personalize the way their respective “Mii” looks, including eyes, face, clothing, and even speech and diction.

These “Miis” then walk around a “room” asking users personal questions, such as personal likes, preferences and recent activities. Once a user types in a response, these are then shared to other “Miitomo Friends” using the app. Friends are made via linking Facebook or Twitter accounts into the app, and once a friend has been made, “visitations” can be done to have “Face-to-Face” sharing.

“Miitomo” is free to download from the iOS and Google Play Stores, but it has a monetized aspect: clothing. The game features a wide range of clothing choices and accessories that “Miis” can sport to look the way users want them to, but all of them need to be purchased using in-game currency.

While currency can be earned from answering questions and other in-game mechanics, insufficient in-game funds can be covered by real money. Additionally, there’s a mini-game which requires to pay per play but rewards winners with rare clothing.

While “Miitomo” has shown potential and has become popular in just a short amount of time, it’s long-term popularity and usage is yet to be seen.