Nintendo has slowly come around to the idea that launching games on mobile platforms is actually quite lucrative. But Nintendo's first foray into mobile apps wasn't a game, it was a social network called Miitomo. But two years on from Miitomo's launch, Nintendo has decided to turn off the servers.
Miitomo was developed back in 2015 with the help of Japanese social gaming company DeNA and then launched in March 2016 alongside the My Nintendo loyalty program. The app was available on iOS and Android, but could only be used when connected to Nintendo's servers. It allows friends to converse by answering questions and share through Twitter and Facebook integration.
As social networks go, it was certainly different. That didn't make it any less popular, though, with over 10 million people using it just a month after launch. It was also a new revenue stream for Nintendo through the sale of Miitomo coins, which could be used to buy clothes for you Mii or to play the Miitomo Drop minigame.
Miitomo's days are numbered, though, as Nintendo announced the end of the service is now set for 12am PDT on May 9 this year. Sales of Miitomo coins ended yesterday, January 24, but until the servers shutdown in May, a daily login bonus of 2,000 Miitomo coins will be offered as well as five game tickets to allow for continued play of Miitomo Drop and other features such as the Miitomo shop where Mii clothing is available.
When the servers do go offline all answers and messages will disappear, as will all purchased items from the Miitomo shop including clothing, wallpapers, and posters. Miifotos will no longer be viewable, either. Mii characters can be transferred to your Nintendo account and sidekick Mii characters can be saved as a QR code.