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Nintendo May Start Selling 'Computer Software' (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Nintendo's most recent fiscal-year disclosure made headlines for announcing a release window for the new "Nintendo NX" console and yet another Zelda game delay, but it also included news of serious corporate restructuring. The short version: Nintendo will soon involve a supervisory committee in making top-level executive decisions. A Tuesday announcement included the company's amended articles of incorporation, expected to be approved by shareholders this June, and it included three new entries in its "business engagement" list: restaurants, medical and health devices, and "computer software." The choice of adding "computer software" to that list, on the other hand, seems particularly curious -- especially since Nintendo's existing list of engaged businesses includes terms that sound very much like computer software, particularly the broad term of "contents such as games, images, and music." That list also revised an entry that used to say that the company would license the "use or reproduction of copyrighted works" and "trademarks." Now, Nintendo will license its "intellectual property rights." That shift to the term "intellectual property" includes copyrighted works and trademarks in an umbrella that also may include such Nintendo-owned concepts as patents.
With the success of things like Hearthstone it's more likely you'll see a cross-platform pokemon CCG or something along those lines. Think outside of Mario/Zelda/Pokemon for merchandise and collectibles as well, look how successful Skylanders was (so much so it shocked it's own creators) by simply making the collectable experience more interactive for kids.
Nintendo wants to stay relevant. They're facing increased console competition, outside competition (console and console game sales continue to decline) and ever increasing console requirements (for resolution and FPS, trending open world gaming, and up and incoming VR). Is it any wonder they're looking to branch out?