[UPDATE] Nintendo to integrate Skylanders-like figurines with Wii U and 3DS

[UPDATE] Nintendo also announced its first planned web and smartphone services called Mario Kart TV. Though Mario Kart TV will link directly to Mario Kart 8, it can also be viewed on PCs, smartphones and tablets. The service will allow you to watch replays, view rankings, and watch official Nintendo videos. Nintendo is also preparing to roll out a Wii U system update in June that will speed up the console’s startup time by 20 seconds.

Nintendo will be integrating Skylanders-like figurine business named NFP-nfc, the company announced at its fiscal meeting today.

Analyst Dave Gibson was present and live-tweeted the event, stating that Nintendo demonstrated the Mario figure across many games “including saves”.

Gibson also tweeted that Nintendo would be showcasing the Nintendo Figurine Platform (NFP) game and figures at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. The 3DS will also reportedly be getting an infrared reader so that the figures will be able to be used across the Wii U and 3DS.

The intergration of figures into games has been featured most recently in the Skylanders series, published by Activision. Disney has released its own take on the figurine game, launching Disney Infinity last summer and selling more than 3 million $75 starter packs to date.

Yesterday Nintendo posted its report for the fiscal year ending March 31, revealing a loss of 46.4 billion yen ($457 million). The Wii U console has sold 2.72 million units in the last 12 months.

Do you think Nintendo should be investing into figurine games? Let us know in the comments below.

Zorine Te is an associate editor at GameSpot, and you can follow her on Twitter @ztharli
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