Nintendo makes a move to take on Minecraft and Roblox; here’s why it’s a big deal

What are MMOs?

MMO stands for “massively multiplayer online” game, which features a large number of real players on the same server. MMOs are not designed to be played alone; they have a social element where gamers interact with others in real time and build the world together. Most MMOs also feature virtual economies where players exchange in-game currency for items, and the content keeps expanding. It’s highly interactive, which sets it apart from regular games. Think of Fortnite, FarmVille, World of Warcraft, and Minecraft.

A mix of Minecraft and Roblox

Roblox enables users to create, share and play games in a virtual environment. (Image Source: Roblox)

Nintendo hasn’t revealed the game or its full features yet, but it’s an MMO (massively multiplayer online)-style game, a first for the company. The playtest confirms that the software is available for download and requires 2.2GB of free space. According to the FAQ, the game is set on a “massive, expansive planet” where players will work together to build and create. While playing, players can “discover new lands, enemies, and resources that will become essential to their journey.”

Players will receive special items called beacons, which allow them to build within the zone surrounding their beacon. Inside a Beacon Zone, only the player who placed the beacon can build and edit, while outside of beacons, anyone can build freely. The FAQ also describes a social space called the “Dev Core,” where players can gather, interact, and “level up.”

There will be two types of currency: Dev Points, earned by building and crafting, and Connex Points, earned through interactions with other players.
Game footage has not been released yet, but the MMO-style game appears to be a brand new IP from Nintendo and doesn’t seem to feature familiar Nintendo characters. It’s also unknown if Nintendo is developing the game on its own or if a third-party developer is behind it. We will find out soon.

What is the appeal behind Minecraft and Roblox that makes them so popular?

At his TwitchCon panel, called “Dream & Friends: The Ultimate SMP Reunion,” he and fellow Minecraft celebrities were asked about everything from their favorite vegetable to “Breaking Bad” characters. (Image credit: Mojang)

Nintendo’s first attempt at developing an MMO (massively multiplayer online)-style game shows that the company is targeting a massive user base of players who already enjoy Minecraft and Roblox, with Minecraft alone boasting millions of monthly active users. School-aged children (and their parents) are the key audience for such games.

While Minecraft and Roblox may not be typical games one would associate with traditional gaming, they have gained immense popularity. For example, Roblox is not a single game but rather a collection of more than millions of games, all created by its community of players. The best way to describe Roblox is as “user-generated content” in the form of games.

Social features are also key to the appeal of both Minecraft and Roblox, including the ability to add friends and chat with them while playing. Perhaps one reason Roblox is so popular among kids is its emphasis on “unstructured play.” Anyone can create a game (or “experience,” which can simply be virtual spaces) for Roblox by downloading its separate Roblox Studio software. Think of it as a metaverse, where you can create a game (or be a part of one), hang out with friends, or even start making money by taking a cut of in-game purchases using Roblox’s virtual currency, Robux.

Nintendo’s services business takes a shape

Nintendo is expected to introduce it’s next console very soon. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Since 2018, Nintendo has offered a subscription service called Switch Online (also known as NSO). Initially, it was underwhelming, but over the years, especially post-pandemic, the online subscription service has undergone a major revamp. The service provides users exclusive access to more games, including beloved classics from older consoles like the N64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance. As Nintendo continues to improve, the role of the subscription service may play a critical part in the launch of a successor to the Switch console. Switch Online is critical for the company because it has stronger margins than hardware products, is more predictable due to recurring billing, and provides more ways for the company to generate revenue from its growing installed base.

With over 38 million paid Nintendo Switch Online subscribers worldwide, Nintendo may be planning how to increase the user base of the service, as its services business could be core to its future. The company has already started teasing how it plans to invest in its membership-only service, as seen with the recent limitation of the Alarmo clock launch to Switch Online members and the opening of applications to test a new IP exclusively for them.