Nintendo’s Alarmo is fresh and exciting: My four biggest takeaways

1) Until now, nobody has known who works on what within Nintendo, given the company’s secretive nature. But for the first time, we’ve learned about a new technology development group separate from the hardware and software teams. This indicates that Nintendo has several technologically intensive projects in progress, distinct from new gaming hardware and games. Nintendo may be developing new types of products that could be used alongside its next-generation consoles or independently, like the Alarmo.

2) The launch of Alarmo differs from Nintendo’s past products. Typically, Nintendo launches new products worldwide at once (at least in markets where it is currently present). However, for the first time, Nintendo launched a product exclusively for its paid subscription service (with a wider launch scheduled for early 2025). This not only highlights the importance of its subscriber base but also provides the company with an opportunity for a dry run for other potential benefits—such as exclusive access to offers, new software features, or possibly early access to hardware, as was the case with Alarmo.

Prototypes of the Nintendo Alarmo. (Image credit: nintendo.com)

3) The most unusual thing about Alarmo isn’t its round shape or the physical dial on top, but rather the motion sensor. Its $100 price may be up for debate, but no one can question how Nintendo turned an under-utilised “radio wave sensor” in consumer tech into something extremely useful: tracking users’ sleep and motion.

Yosuke Tamori, a member of the Entertainment Planning & Development Department and a producer for Alarmo, clarified in an “Ask the Developer” interview that they chose the radio wave sensor because it “maintains privacy since it doesn’t use a camera.” Product director Tetsuya Akama added that the radio wave sensor “can recognise very subtle movements” without the need to record video. That’s a genius move—this is what Nintendo does best: taking a piece of tech that’s either old or under-utilised and using it creatively.

Yosuke Tamori during the ‘Ask the Developer’ interview. (Image credit: nintendo.com)

4) It’s no surprise that Alarmo’s clock faces are a way to push game sales, acting as a promotional tool. I expect to see multiple new editions of these alarm clock faces over the coming year or so, serving as a way to feature all their franchises together in one place and essentially advertise every morning. Imagine when Nintendo launches new hardware or first-party games—these alarm clock faces could be used as a promotional tool. The opportunities are endless, including paid themes and clock faces.