Wii U and 3DS get support for automatic game download

Nintendo will ensure that purchased games are automatically downloaded on the Wii U and 3DS. In addition, it will also be possible to download parts of games that are not yet out, so that they are downloaded faster at release.

By entering the Nintendo Network ID during the purchase process in the store, a purchased game is automatically placed on the Wii U or 3DS, the company announced during a meeting with investors. With the system, the acquisition of new games should be more ‘streamlined’, because the user has to perform fewer actions to be able to play.

First, the Rakuten Books and yodobashi.com stores will be equipped with the NNID link, Nintendo said. Amazon and other large online stores should also eventually allow purchased games to be downloaded automatically. However, it was not announced when these stores will be linked to the Nintendo network.

In time, it will also be possible to download parts of games that are not yet out. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the first game where the ‘pre-download’ will function when it comes out in December. The feature will also be coming to 3DS in 2015, according to Nintendo. In this way, the downloading of games is accelerated once they are released, because parts of the necessary files have already been downloaded.