Nintendo is collaborating with Nvidia to launch classic games such as New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and PUNCH-OUT!! in China. However, the games won’t be available via a Nintendo console, rather these classic titles will run on Nvidia Shield, according to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad.
Nvidia Shield to support Wii games
Nvidia Shield is known for its mobile and PC games compatibility, but it will reportedly get Wii support as it makes its debut in China today. Ahmad notes that Nvidia Shield would sell for RMB 1499 (about $227), while the titles would be priced around RMB 68 each.
“The Shield will focus on games in China. It will run popular PC games as well as Nintendo Wii games such as Mario Galaxy, Twilight Princess and Punch out,” read a tweet from Ahmad.
Here is some gameplay of Twilight Princess running on Nvidia Shield.
It is said to be running in HD (Not sure what that means exactly in terms of the port).
Wii games on Shield will cost RMB 68. pic.twitter.com/M84WfV9eWE
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) December 5, 2017
As of now, not much information is available on the Shield version, which is available in China. But, according to Engadget, it is different from the U.S. version as it has local content, store, and search, along with Baidu powered voice control AI.
The Nvidia Shield would come with a special gamepad. For players looking for the motion-based controls, a Wii-style remote is also possibly coming with the Shield to capture motion-style play. However, there is no word on when this controller would be launched, notes Comicbook.
Nintendo might consider launching new titles after seeing the performance of the current titles. It has an impressive collection of Wii games such as Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, Kirby’s Epic Yarn and Metroid Prime Trilogy.
Smart strategy from Nintendo
Ahmad said that he talked about such a possibility earlier this year with Nintendo looking for a way to expand its Wii library to a new platform to create a new revenue stream from its classics. Since the Wii games are not available on the Nintendo Switch, Shield could turn out to be the best alternative.
Tapping China could be a masterstroke from Nintendo, given the fact that it is reportedly home to over 300 million gamers. In 2015, China revoked its long-standing ban on the consoles, following which Sony PS4 and Microsoft (Xbox One) arrived in the country. However, Nintendo has still to launch Switch in China. Before releasing in the country, all games must be cleared by China’s Ministry of Culture.
During Nintendo’s latest earnings briefing, President Tatsumi Kimishima stated that the company knows China is a big gaming market, but they are not selling Switch in that market currently.
However, he noted that we “have previously researched the possibility of selling our products in China, and that effort continues as we consider bringing Nintendo Switch to the Chinese market.”
Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch continues to rule the charts. In October, Switch emerged as the bestselling video game console, according to a report from NPD Group, a market research firm that tracks the video game sales in the U.S. Nintendo aims to sell 14 million Switch units by the end of March 2018, an increase from their initial estimate of 10 million units.
