Nintendo to Release Pokemon Game for iPad

Many believed Nintendo would not be making any games for the iOS but it seems things have changed.

The company is currently working on bringing Pokémon: Trading Card Game Online, which will be exclusively available for Apple's iPad before the end of 2014. This ends Nintendo's previous preference to release games solely for its own consoles, and perhaps the potential profit of extending their market was difficult to ignore.

"Yes, we can confirm that is the Pokémon TCG Online iPad app, and it's coming later this year," a spokesperson for The Pokémon Company.

By releasing a Pokémon game for the iPad, Nintendo will be able to service and monetize a whole new audience and also make it even easier to play its games. The iPad device is owned by million of people all over the world and is one of most popular mobile game-playing devices.

Nintendo will also be able to provide in-game purchases like booster packs. The opportunity has the potential to bring in massive revenue.

Many gamers are ignoring the Wii U home console and the 3DS handheld is not selling as well as the DS previously did. Last year, Nintendo lost $229 million and if Wii U games fail to catch on, they will also lose money this fiscal year.

Because of Nintendo's current financial issue, many investors have urged the publisher to expand their reach to the smartphone and tablet market. Japan is the biggest consumer of mobile games, and last year, a total of $16 billion was spent by consumers solely on mobile games.

"The spread of smartphones does not spell the end of game consoles," Iwata said in January. "Its not that simple, and it doesn't mean we should put Mario on smartphones."

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata previously rebuffed interest in the mobile market, as he believed it was not the best place for Nintendo.