Fans of Nintendo's pet-simulation game Nintendogs might be making a comeback, and it might be coming to mobile devices. The last released version of the game was Nintendogs + Cats, which was released for the Nintendo 3DS back in 2011. Since then, no entry has come out on the current generation, with the most similar game being Little Friends: Dogs & Cats which was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018.
While many fans think that a Nintendogs title on the Switch might be the way to go, the lukewarm reception to the previously mentioned Little Friends: Dogs & Cats might suggest otherwise. Unlike the Nintendo DS and 3DS which utilizes the touchscreen as the main controller, the Switch needs to be able to adapt games with or without the touchscreen capability due to its unique docking feature. Hence, gamers should be able to play smoothly even when the Switch is docked. This issue was present in a lot of touch-heavy games which were ported from 3DS to Switch, with the touch screen function being replaced by an in-game cursor.
However, Nintendo looks interested in bringing Nintendogs to mobile devices instead of the Switch. A recent patent has shown that Nintendo Co., Ltd., is applying for what seems to be an augmented reality game that will use the camera to locate and interact with a dog. In various screenshots of the patent, a dog can be seen on what looks like a mobile device where the word "place" is also written, implying that the dog can be placed wherever the mobile camera is pointed at.
Surprisingly enough, the idea of bringing the game isn't too farfetched with mobile devices having more in common with the 3DS and DS than other devices. Most phones nowadays rely on the touch screen function, similar to how the 3DS used this to interact with the titular furry creatures. The speakerphone could also allow the user to talk and hear their dogs similar to the voice commands in the handheld version. The phone camera would even allow virtual pets to be photographed in real-life spaces and scenes. This feels like a good match that even celebrity Paris Hilton had previously asked for Nintendogs to be brought to mobile platforms.
While the particulars of using augmented reality in Nintendogs could turn out to be unexpected, the game could borrow some game mechanics from other AR games and throw in some engaging features that could definitely be ground-breaking use of the tech. While the patent is not a full-on confirmation of the game, the fact that Nintendo is exploring technology that could be similar to the beloved pet simulator could help bring the series back to life and into mobile phones everywhere.