Nintendo’s take on Skylanders and Disney Infinity now has a name: Amiibo.
During Nintendo’s digital event conference for today’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime announced the publisher’s entry into the toys-to-life category with Amiibo.
Amiibo communicates with the Wii U GamePad controller via near-field communications (NFC), allowing for information from the toy to affect the onscreen game. The figures will also provide for input of data from the Wii U controller, allowing for stats that are associated with the figure to also change and evolve.
For example, in Super Smash Bros., the Amiibo figure will have its own A.I. and customizable move sets. This means the more you play as, with, and against your Amiibo character, the more it will evolve and adapt to your play style.
Other games that are slated to become Amiibo compatible titles include Mario Kart 8, Mario Party 10, Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker, and Yoshi’s Wooly World.
During the stream, the following characters were revealed to already have their own Amiibo figurines: Mario, Princess Peach, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Wii Fit Trainer, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, and Animal Crossing Villager.
Super Smash Bros. Wii U will be the first game to utilize the Amiibo and both have a concurrent release dates for this holiday season. Nintendo also plans on announcing a special Amiibo peripheral for the 3DS by next year.