Nintendo Files Trademark Application for “Miitopia” in North America

Lou Contaldi March 17, 2017 1:53 PM EST

Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t think we would hear about Miitopia after its Japanese release last December. A Nintendo 3DS role-playing game based on Nintendo’s iconic Mii avatars, Miitopia released exclusively in Japan to middling reviews — IGN Japan rated the game in the low 6’s, where Famitsu awarded the title a 31 out of 40. With that said, Nintendo has filed a trademark for “Miitopia” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, possibly signaling a Western release for the game. The trademark is filed under Class 9 for game software.

It’s important to note that filing a trademark does not assure that Nintendo will be doing anything with the property — point being, Excite Truck, Wave Race, and Eternal Darkness have been undergoing the application process for years now, with little-to-no signs of progress. As seen above, the application was filed a little more than half a month ago — well after the release of Miitopia in Japan.

However, if Miitopia were to come out, it would appear likely it would stay on Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo has all but abandoned Mii’s on their latest home console — Nintendo Switch — leaving the once-popular avatars stranded on Nintendo 3DS and mobile platforms (via Miitomo). Nintendo hasn’t made an official announcement one way or the other if Miitopia would be heading to the West, however fans of the chibi avatars will likely want to keep an eye out in future Nintendo Directs. Check out the Japanese Nintendo Direct below: