Following its recent launch in Japan, Nintendo and DeNA's much discussed entranceinto mobile entertainment will hit UK, US and other key European app stores on Thursday.

Miitomo, which is more an avatar social network than a game - think 3DS' StreetPass meets Facebook - has already done one million downloads in Japan,

When you download the app, you get to create an avatar - customising facial features like eyes and hair, as well as voice and personality - or importing your Mii from Wii U or 3DS.

Then link it to your Facebook and/or Twitter, answer some trivial questions about yourself and send your Mii into the ether to interact with your friends' Miis.

Hello world

In this way, Nintendo hopes the network will spark interesting conversations. "Part of the fun is discovering unexpected facts about your friends," it says.

The conversation is kept going as you can answer (text, or photo), or give a heart.

Of course, the real reason for Nintendo's move is that it wants to drive sign up for its Nintendo Account, which acts a rewards program and cheap UA platform as it prepares to release more serious F2P mobile games later in 2016 and throughout 2017.

You can sign up/pre-register here.