From Kirby merch to Hollywood blockbusters, Nintendo expands its entertainment empire.
Nintendo has made the decision to give one of its less well-known studios a new look and a more ambitious goal. The company announced on their website that Warpstar Inc., a name that might ring a bell for longtime Kirby fans, has officially been rebranded as Nintendo Stars.
The renaming isn’t the only change for the studio. The studio’s role is being expanded to handle a lot more than just pink puffball projects. Warpstar was originally focused on Kirby-related ventures outside of gaming, like merchandise and even the Kirby anime.
But now with the rebrand, Nintendo Stars is going to become the studio responsible for managing films, spin-off projects, and pretty much any entertainment venture tied to Nintendo’s iconic library of characters.
The studio is now moving away from mere Kirby plushies and DVDs to massive projects like the upcoming Super Mario sequel, the live-action Zelda film, and all the merchandising mega-projects that come with them to stay on track.
This shift is Nintendo’s way of telling us that the company is no longer solely confined within the gaming industry. After the billion-dollar success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the company seems more determined than ever to spread their wings and take on new challenges.
Also, with Zelda hitting the big screen next year, the timing could not have been better. Nintendo Stars will essentially act as the bridge between these massive film projects, merchandising deals, and brand management to keep the Nintendo vision on track to slowly but surely creep into other entertainment avenues besides gaming, even if that remains their bread and butter.
It’s an interesting move because while the renaming itself doesn’t sound like a big deal, the wider implications definitely are. Nintendo’s motive ultimately remains to take their already iconic video game characters like Mario or Kirby towards further superstardom, cementing their status as the face of not just Nintendo but overall the entertainment business.
Considering the momentum they already have with movies and merch, it looks like Nintendo Stars could end up playing a very crucial role in shaping the company’s future outside of gaming.
