There could be a new player in the Android tablet space in the future. None other than Nintendo is reportedly working on an Android-powered tablet geared to the educational market. The revelation came from a series of now-deleted tweets (but not before being grabbed) from Nintendo software engineer Nando Monterazo:
Experimenting with a tablet of Nintendo, the system is based on android, fully modified and unified as a database of the tablet. #Android
— Nando Monterazo (@NandoMonterazo) November 18, 2013
At the moment just testing communication environment of educational games that will be shared between the kids using the tablet! #Tablet
— Nando Monterazo (@NandoMonterazo) November 18, 2013
Monterazo adds that while popular game franchises may not make it to the tablet, certain Nintendo characters would.
@Chris_Utah3DS @DeSero It is, a tablet with educational games for children with Nintendo characters….
— Nando Monterazo (@NandoMonterazo) November 18, 2013
The Nintendo Wii U has not fared well on the market and the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is likely only going to make things more difficult for Nintendo going forward. The Android tablet could be part of a strategy to broaden the company’s revenue streams. It hopefully is also a sign that Nintendo is more seriously considering the mobile market.
Needless to say, Nintendo could not have been too pleased with these revelations but would only say that “Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation.” It would not even confirm that Monterazo was indeed a company employee.
Would you be interested in a Nintendo-built Android tablet to help your kids learn? Or should Nintendo instead focus on porting its game franchises to Android? Let us know below.
Source : VentureBeat