Topic: Used 3DS/Nintendo account question

Hey guys. So I bought the Zelda 3DS XL Bundle through eBay for $225. Came with the 3DS looking brand new, A Link Between Worlds/Four Swords installed on it and a copy of Paper Mario Sticker star + a small case. I had been wanting to get one but had not really looked into the specifics of how Nintendo accounts work and from what I understand, I cannot remove the former owner's account without losing A Link Between Worlds/Four Swords (the latter of which is no longer even available from what I know.) Is there a way around removing the former owner's account/creating a new one of my own while also keeping the two games in question or not? It seemed like a pretty good deal, but I'm not sure if I should have shelled out a little extra money just to have avoided this dilemma.

As I understand it, & perhaps I'm wrong, but when you buy a 3ds with a game installed on it, you can transfer all of your first 3ds data to the second 3ds, with no overwriting. The 2 e-Shop accounts merge the purchases. I think, just like with the Wii system being separate from the Wii Shop account on that system, the e-Shop account is also separate from the 3ds itself. This means you can format the system, but keep your e-Shop account. I'll look up some info for you, unless someone else gives you more concrete data. If you're not doing a system transfer, then I would probably say maybe you can keep the games, & still link up a Club Nintendo account, &/or Nintendo Network ID; this is just a guess, of course.

Just to clarify, it is not my account. I would like to make one of my own and remove the one that is already on there (which is also what the two games in question are tied to) and it only involves one 3DS.

If the console is already linked to a Nintendo Network ID, then think you may be a bit scuppered because, as far as I know, you'd have to keep the current account in order to keep the games. Your best bet might be to contact the seller and request the details of the account (username and password) so you can take it over. You should be able to find the seller on Ebay in the summary section under purchase history. If you don't have any luck there, then you could try to contact Nintendo to ask them if they can do anything. The answer would probably be "no", but worth a try perhaps.

if the console doesn't have a Nintendo Network ID, then the games should be tied to the console. So you could get your own account and redownload from the eshop. The account should recognise that the games are tied to the console and when you go to the purchase screen you get a download button. To check whether the console has an NNID, go to the eshop and if there's an account, it will show as connecting.

Hope this helps. Please note that this is what I believe, but anything you try is at your own risk.

Again, I think I'm giving you the correct information, but from what I understand, in such a case as you describe, you can delete the e-Shop account, & I think the games will still be playable. You can then proceed to create your own account. It shouldn't disable your Zelda games. Again, I'll look up some solid info for you, unless someone else gives you more concrete data first. Sorry i don't know this for fact.

Nvrmnd, I actually agree with Sakura's answer.

I'm not so sure now. If you transfer the account that's on the console to another console it will definitely remove the games. However, if you reformat the system, download the games and then create a new account it might be okay because it thinks the games are tied to the system. I remember being able to download Animal Crossing on a second hand AC console after transferring my data from another console. Again, though, anything you try would be at your own risk.

Call Nintendo.

There is a Nintendo Network ID. I e-mailed the seller who was apparently selling for a friend so they will have to ask them for the PW

Quick and short answer. If there is a Nintendo Network ID all purchases are tied to that ID and you lose the games if you delete the NNID or create a new one.

Contacted Nintendo Customer Service. Seems like they want me to attempt to get in contact with the original owner to attempt to authorize an account switch.

I'm surprised Nintendo allows transfers. A lot of companies make thier digital products non-transferable, wither you have the original account information or not. So that's nice of Nintendo.

Nothing official yet mind you. According to the seller, the person who owns it is a bit of a procrastinator so who knows if it will even happen. Having used the 3DS some more, is the NNID used for anything particular beyond being the ID for all purchases and such? (I've attempted to research this stuff but have found no results hence posting to begin with.) I'm still waiting on getting the PW at the very least, but I'm hoping if I can't get in contact with him, Customer Service can change the e-mail associated with the account.