Pok?mon studio Game Freak making a mobile game

…as an independent venture, not for Nintendo obviously

Pokémon developer Game Freak is taking its first steps into the mobile market with Solitiba. Initially released on Nintendo 3DS, the hybrid of solitaire and horseback racing is now in the works for Android and iOS devices.

Despite the studio’s close relationship with Nintendo, it makes sense for Game Freak to test these lucrative waters. The Japanese mobile gaming market recently surpassed that of the country’s console space. Everyone is making the shift toward smartphones.

Case in point: Even Nintendo subsidiary The Pokémon Company is in the process of crafting a mobile game of its own, The Pokemon Trading Card Game Online. It’s truly a brave new world out there.

Solitiba [Game Freak via Siliconera]