There’s been a considerable amount of confusion regarding just when Nintendo’s 3DS eShop will be going live. Nintendo of Europe said the service would be available at launch, while Nintendo of America stated it wouldn’t. Luckily, Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, has cleared the issue up.
Speaking to investors at a recent financial results briefing for Nintendo’s third quarter, Iwata revealed that the 3DS eShop will go live around the world in late May, which is when the Nintendo 3DS firmware will receive its first update.
In addition to granting access to the eShop, the update will allow Nintendo 3DS owners to download a free web browser and the ability to transfer DSiWare titles over from their Nintendo DSi systems. This feature will be made possible via the eShop in some manner.
Additionally, Iwata also mentioned a second firmware update in the future will enable transfer of downloaded software between two 3DS systems, in case you happen to purchase a second system down the line. The number of transfers you can perform will be limited in some fashion, however.
Regarding the eShop itself, Iwata emphasized the importance of an accessible user interface. Since the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop are based on Internet browser technology, Iwata feels they are both slow and not easy to use. With this in mind, the 3DS eShop will see a significant redesign to ensure digital content does not go unnoticed. In addition to to the aforementioned content, the eShop will also have game videos and demos up for download.
In addition to the 3DS Virtual Console, DSiWare games and downloadable 3DS games, the eShop will also include “3D Classics” for purchase. These were previously demonstrated at E3 2010 in the form of NES games with stereoscopic 3D effects added to them.
