Nintendo is partnering with mobile gaming company Cygames in a new action RPG for phones. The game, Dragalia Lost will be released in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao this summer, and will be launched subsequently in North America and Europe. Nintendo says it will "jointly operate" the title with Cygames, "bringing to life the shared vision of a new gaming experience with appeal across the globe."
Cygames is best known for Granblue Fantasy one of the most popular mobile games in Japan. Like many other Japanese mobile RPGs, it uses a "loop" system to unlock new characters at random through the currency purchased with real money, a controversial mechanic that Western games have emulated in the form of "loot boxes." (Nintendo already does the same with Fire Emblem Heroes .) Nier Automata and Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames is working on a spin-off title for PlayStation 4. [19659003] Outgoing Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima revealed Dragalia Lost after the company's earnings presentation, where he announced a year-on-year profit increase of more than 500 percent. As part of the association Dragalia Lost Nintendo is acquiring a 5 percent stake in Cygames.