Nintendo: 3DS eShop Won't Be Available On Day One After All, Slated For May

Conflicting reports have surrounded Nintendo's plans for the roll-out of the digital market and internet browser for its upcoming 3DS handheld. Now, in an investor briefing, president Satoru Iwata himself has confirmed that the store will not, in fact, be ready "on day one", as previously suggested. "The first system update is scheduled for late May, at almost the same time around the world," president Satoru Iwata said. In addition to the eShop and the internet browser, the May update will also enable the ability to transfer DSiWare titles from a DS to a 3DS system. The 3DS launches in Japan on February 26th, in North America on March 27th and in Europe on March 25th, which means consumers won't be able to use those features for two to three months following their 3DS purchase. The eShop will offer DSiWare titles and retro games (similar to Wii's virtual console), as well as demos and trailers of some games. Iwata described the ways the eShop aims to advance on Nintendo's previous digital storefronts for DS and Wii, which he says "so far... have not provided the users with a sufficiently easy and accessible interface." This is because "switching from one screen to another takes time and, for Wii, promotions by Nintendo Channel and sales at Wii Shop Channel have not been closely linked," Iwata adds. "As it is critical in digital software distribution that the software available there won't be buried and go unnoticed, and that we can prepare pleasant encounters for consumers, we will be running a drastically redesigned shop for Nintendo 3DS in which you can more comfortably purchase software through downloads."