Android users have been waiting patiently to play Super Mario Run on their phones since the side scroller launched exclusively on the iPhone in December, but it looks like it won’t be too much longer until they can join in Princess Peach’s rescue. In a tweet from Nintendo Japan, the company announced that the popular auto-runner will be released in the Play Store in March, though surprisingly it won’t be the first Nintendo game available for Android.
On Feb. 2, Fire Emblem Heroes will launch on both iOS and Android with “fight battles customized for touch screens and on-the-go gameplay.”
According to the description in the Play Store, the game features “numerous Hero characters from the Fire Emblem series and a few brand-new Heroes created by artist Yusuke Kozaki, known for his work on Fire Emblem Awakening and Fire Emblem Fates. Some heroes will fight at your side as allies, while others may stand in your way as fierce enemies to be defeated and added to your army.” Additionally, there will be “many other modes where you can ... compete against other players,” and the company promises that “free and timely updates will continue to add new Hero characters, content, and other surprises.”
Nintendo Fire Emblem Heroes, not Super Mario Run, will be Nintendo’s first game for Android.
Nintendo says the game will be free to download and contain in-app purchases, a move away from the one-time-only pricing it introduced with Super Mario Run. Despite shattering download records, the decision to charge $10 for Super Mario Run was not without its controversy, as some players grumbled about the steep cost and others complained about how the paywall was implemented after completing the first three levels. It currently has a 3-star rating in the iOS App Store.
Nintendo hasn’t announced specifics about the pricing structure for the Android version of Super Mario Run, but presumably it will cost the same $10 as the iOS version. Previously, the company announced plans to launch 2-3 titles a year for mobile devices, but it hasn’t shared any information about other releases this year. However, the popular sim game Animal Crossing has been rumored.
You can register to be notified of the Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes launches in the Play Store.
Why this matters: It’s been a complete bummer that Android users haven’t been able to play Super Mario Run, but at least we now have a general idea of when the iconic plumber will finally land on our phones. But the Fire Emblem Heroes announcement is far more interesting. Even if you’re not a fan of the tactical role-playing game, the fact that it’s launching in tandem with the iOS is version is exciting for future Nintendo releases.
