Nintendo has consistently maintained that it would explore options to make the eShop easily accessible in web browsers, a policy that's brought us Miiverse and Mario Kart TV on PC, Mac and mobile devices. With the eShop platforms on Wii U and 3DS becoming increasingly important to Nintendo, it's unsurprising that calls for the long promised web implementation of the eShop continue to be heard.
The convenience of browsing the eShop on your phone or computer, buying them and finding the game installed on your system when you next fire it up is obvious, and it's a feature already available on Sony and Microsoft systems. It seems that Nintendo's work in this area is progressing, however, as curious gamers trying relevant web addresses have stumbled across what seems to be a basic early build of this functionality.
At the time of writing a visit to eshop.nintendo.net brings up the following basic webpage, with a Redeem Download button.
In our case clicking that button brings us an error yet, intriguingly, it's automatically logged in to our Nintendo Network ID — this suggests it's using the same setup as the browser based Miiverse, for example, in detecting our user credentials.
Some users over on NeoGaf, meanwhile, are having some joy on the second screen; it seems to be varying per region. There are claims that inputting a code for a download game is, after a relatively short amount of time, triggering that title to download and install on a Nintendo Network ID-linked Wii U, with suggestions this will also work on 3DS.
The fact that this functionality is on the way isn't new, though it's been a long time coming. Nintendo's due to present its Q2 financial results on 31st October, however, and features like this are ideal for revealing to shareholders ahead of release. The presence of a functional — albeit limited — web page along these lines certainly gives hope that this will arrive soon.
Are you excited about this functionality, and do you feel a web store and related features will help boost eShop sales? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
[source neogaf.com]
Comments 41
This is certainly interesting! I hope this also means they will consider changing software being tied to a system.
Oh lord, making it even easier for us to spend our money on them. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. They're costing me enough at the moment as it is
Wow, I totally forgot they were planning this! Maybe this means the movies How to Train Your Dragon and Tangled will also be coming to the eShop in 3D soon too!
Finally! I've been waiting ages for this. Hope they release it soon.
It'll be about time once they get this up and running.
Can't wait!
That's great removes the need to always be on your system to buy games now we can do it wherever we go.
@Tsurii897 There hasn't been a direct in a long time, especially one featuring Mr. Iwata. I hope that changes soon.
What about working on something actually useful like say a way to retrieve our games when our console is lost or stolen or not working without having to contact Nintendo's customer support
@SanderEvers
The 'Contacting Nintendo' part is what's wrong about it..... you don't Need to contact, Sony, or Microsoft, or Apple, or Google or Valve, for transfering your stuff to a different hardware so why should you need to contact Nintendo..... it's not an issue for those in the U.S. but its a big issue for those of us who live in smaller countries where Nintendo has no offices
I can see this being announced at the same time as cross-buy. I mean, that has to come at some point, right?
...Right?
So they really Were working on this thing after all. Hopefully it'll be the start of a true account system from Nintendo. They really need to copy PSN, where the user gets to control what devices are on their account and which ones are allowed to have games and other media installed on it.
As for the store, they should avoid the PSN Store and copy Google Play store instead. The browser PSN store is really slow, while the on-device store is annoying to navigate. Sure, you can find games easily, but it's difficult finding relevant DLC, vudeos, and demos for the game. Nintendo eShop has it beat in this category. Anyway, they should make it more like Google Play in terms of ease of use and speed; it's the best webstore I know of at the moment.
The icons for games appear to be uploaded (even for the EU side). They use the same URL format as the NNP website but the file extension is different. The NNP site ones are JPEGs while these are PNG. 128*128 for Wii U games and 72*72 for 3DS games.
This is probably for showing purchases in your account.
While you're at it Nintendo, let us also purchase games even if we don't have enough hard disk space for it.
I'm looking forward to this functionality. Would be nice to be able to take advantage of sales if I happen to be away from home and such
Sweet so I'll hopefully be able to buy games on sale from Uni.
I've actually emailed Nintendo on a number of times asking exactly for this kind of functionality. I usually get a response that says they can not accept my suggestions as I don't work for them, which is just them saving themselves I case I'd ever sue them. It's good to see my nagging is coming to something ahaha
Awesome!
Hi! I just got Wrecking Crew for Wii U VC in Club Nintendo (the games have been updated) for trying this, and it works! I got Donkey Kong for 3DS VC too (150 coins), and tried to redeem it, but it said me I already had that game! Heh, I forgot completely. Who wants the Donkey Kong code then?
@DilMan33 I don't think you'll be able to buy stuff, if you haven't the hardware that is needed linked to your NNID.
@originaljohn They already announced last year their plans for a webshop.
I'm getting the Enter Download Code screen here in the US.
It says it's 16 characters.
@Olmectron Could i have it?
Gotta love how Nintendo just gets beta testers without even asking for them.
Still waiting for my Nintendo app to match Sony's, with integrated store (3ds + Wii U), Miiverse, club Nintendo, Mario kart TV and anything else they want to stick on there.
@CommenSense Weird, Sony's app has Miiverse, Club Nintendo and Mario Kart TV?
Intriguing, though it will probably be of little use to me, since I don't leave my hardware in modes to do things when powered down. Also, I wouldn't want to enter any card data, even on my pc, as that data would follow, & be accessible on my WU, which is what I feel is quite unsecured; better just to continue using the pre-paid (e-Shop) cards.
Now if only we could get eshop cards (or other credit) with the otherwise useless star points, like we still can for the Wii and DS. How long has it been now?
Yup. Just redeemed some Club Nintendo coins for Wrecking Crew and put the download code in on my iPhone and was told my download will begin immediately. I guess I'll know for sure when I get home!
Does this mean they may end up finally linking purchases to accounts instead of hardware?!
@bofis purchases always have been linked to accounts on Wii U and since late 2013 it's also like that on the 3DS.
My 3DS is in sleep mode with a game active right now and I'm not sure if a download will start with it like that. Otherwise I'd totally try this with a Club Nintendo reward right now.
I kinda like browsing the stores occasionally on the respective devices, especially the Wii U eShop. If I'm being honest, though, I'd probably buy more if I could access it during regular web surfing time.
I just put my Wrecking Crew code in and received a redemption receipt email. I guess it works.
I can also confirm the website works for redeeming download codes! I just redeemed Kirby's Dream Course, and was informed on the website that the download will begin automatically. This is exciting
I can also confirm that, it works!
My problem with the eshop is the way they have the games listed if you go down and click all games. I don't want to see 3DS games on my Wii U eshop at all because for one I don't even own a 3DS and don't plan to. They should do like sony and have on the left side of the screen a Wii U section and a 3DS section so I don't have to waste my time look through all the 3DS crap just to find a wii u game I want to purchase.
I was thinking about this the other day when the Bayonetta demo was released. Just got back from holiday and would have loved to have it ready and waiting for when I get home. Well, in the future, maybe I will
@scamander but your NNID is linked to the console so same thing...... Problem is this: if your console is lost or stolen or not working you cannot transfer software to a different one without going through Nintendo's customer service.... that's just not acceptable and people need to stop defending this anti-consumer practice
@Olmectron if you still have the code I'll happily enjoy it email is [email protected]
@BensonUii This. I really need to get a hard drive soon. I have one i can re-purpose but I need to replace IT first.
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