A new patent suggests that Nintendo could be planning a comeback for the beloved Nintendogs, this time on mobile devices. The patent was reported by My Nintendo News, and details a system in which the player can use their camera to play with virtual objects on a screen. The virtual object used, however, is a dog. While it’s hardly a confirmation of a Nintendogs return, bringing the pet simulation game to mobile devices seems like a match made in heaven.
It’s a safe bet by now that the generation that grew up with the Nintendo DS will mostly own their own phones and tablets, and what better way to capitalize on our nostalgia than to bring back our virtual dogs? It’s been a while since Nintendo released a major phone title. Some of their iOS and Android releases became considerably successful, such as Mario Kart Tour and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Nintendogs would be right at home alongside these other cosy mobile games.
For some, a mobile Nintendogs may be a frightening prospect. Mobile games are known for their often aggressive monetization policies, and we really don’t want to pay per pet of our pups. Mario Kart Tour utilized the loot box mechanic, a highly profitable move from Nintendo that earned the company an approximate $293 million dollars. The loot box gambling elements of Mario Kart Tour were removed last year, as the industry moves away from the controversial trend.
It’s worth considering that this patent could have nothing to do with Nintendogs, and the artist simply chose to use a dog model as the example. Alternatively, the patent may not be for a phone’s camera, but instead for a future Nintendo system. It’s even a possibility that this could have been planned and been scrapped. All we know is that we need to see our Nintendogs once more.
Would you play a Nintendogs game on your phone? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, keep your eyes on GameLuster for more gaming news.
