Nintendo has signed a deal with Japanese mobile publisher DeNA which will see it releasing games for mobile – or indeed, any third-party hardware – for the first time in its history.

The games will be developed by both parties and will use Nintendos portfolio of familiar characters and franchises, which includes Mario, Pokémon, Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda – but wont be direct ports of existing games.

“Only new original games optimised for smart device functionality will be created,” reads the companys statement, suggesting the resulting games might be simpler than Nintendo fans are used to.

The companies are also working together on an online membership service which will be accessible across mobile, desktop and Nintendos games consoles. The details are still under wraps but, with the service set to launch this autumn, we can expect to hear more shortly.

The partnership also includes a capital alliance, under which Nintendo is acquiring a 10 per share in DeNA, worth approximately 22bn yen (£122m), and DeNA is taking the same value of shares, 1.24 per cent of stock, in Nintendo.