Nintendo to launch free-to-play game

Nintendo is working on a free-to-play game due to release during the current fiscal year, president and CEO Satoru Iwata told investors today.

The company has expressed interest in such a venture in the past, but has not yet released a game outside of the traditional premium model.

The news broke when Polygon spotted a tweet from analyst David Gibson, who says the game won’t be in either the Mario or Pokemon franchises.

"Nintendo free-to-play game will be released this fy but will not be Mario or Pokemon game as already have good relationship in those brands," wrote Gibson.

Nintendo has since confirmed the comments, and said it will provide a full transcript of Iwata’s remarks next week.

The current fiscal year ends in March 2014.