It hasn’t exactly been the start that Nintendo (OTC:NTDOY) was looking for.
Investors and gamers alike cheered the iconic video game maker back in September when it announced it would be coming out with a new title, Super Mario Run, designed specifically for Apple devices. The two companies announced the game would hit virtual shelves in December, just in time for Christmas.
Android versions of the game will come too, sometime in early 2017.
Super Mario Run was officially released on Friday, and thus far has garnered pretty poor reviews. The game is currently ranked just 2.5 stars (out of a possible five) because of its high price tag. Users also didn’t like that the game requires the player to maintain an internet connection at all times and that the free trial version only included the first three levels.
The game costs $9.99 in the U.S. or $13.99 in Canada.
Nintendo shares in Tokyo are down some 11% since the game was released, with critics primarily concerned about the price point. In a world filled with free games supported by ads, many think Super Mario Run will struggle simply because it costs too much. Users don’t want to pay that much for a game on their phone, even one with an iconic character like Mario.
Nintendo bulls were also excited the game might provide a nice push for the company’s Wii U console, although that seems unlikely now.
Nintendo has also apparently soured on the idea of making games to smartphones as well, with the Wall Street Journal reporting the company doesn’t plan any additional games for anything but its own platforms.
