Video: Here's Your First Look At The Nintendo Switch eShop

Looks pretty sharp actually. Kind of glad they spent their time making it. Clean, sleak and to the point. None of the bizarre features. Feels like something I'd have as an adult. Definitely an improvement over the Wii U's one

They call it home console but in most cases show it as mobile device.

I really have to download that update pronto. Quite a bit of my wanted launch games are only on the eShop.

Clean yes but extremely basic. They needed to get something out. Later in the consoles life they will at stuff like Nindies or some other quick access category.

I buy a lot of things digitally so this is very welcome.

Pretty good. I like the PS4-like ability to view many items in a grid at once.

@eeyore in cases like starting up or browsing eShop, it feels like a no-brainer to use the tablet mode for all the possibly needed text input.

Sleek as expected, that seems to be the Switches theme. I can't help but think additions will be made to it as time goes on though. I wouldn't be surprised if an EShop app was created to connect Console, Handheld, and Mobile devices together. Basically being able to buy BOTW on the EShop from your phone.

I like the clean interface! I might try to buy an NS sooner than I expected.

Looks nice and clean and a massive improvement over the Wii U's eShop. It is early days of course but it does look pretty empty. Would like to see that side bar filled out with more content views and a page to view account information and purchase history.

Looks clean, too clean I would say. I hope you could edit your own preferences at the main page for even easier access, but I'd doubt that. Still, liking that modern, slick look, Nintendo. Keep it up

Feels a bit basic, but then all online console stores do get updates and a fresh coat of paint down the line so they'll probably do that here someday too.

Looks really clean and simple. The other eShops were always too flashy and uncomfortable to use imo, just like the PS and Xbox Stores, actually.

Plain Jane.

They of course managed to put in a feature to "merge any funds you have in that account with your Nintendo account and use them across all your Nintendo systems", but what about merging all our digital purchases so that they can be played across all our Nintendo systems?

Edit: To clarify, I'm talking about VC games.

I've not been bothered by any Nintendo storefront. Guess I just always know what I want and get out.

Hmm. I think I have like 40 bucks in eshop funds just sitting. I may get an extra game. Also thank you Nintendo for keeping your store easy to navigate.

While I really like that they have the prices right there and so big, really nice to see especially considering the wide range of prices you can find on the eShop, I think a title next to it would also be useful. We all know what Zelda is but that Bomberman logo is pretty crazy and there are 2 Shovel Knights. I suppose that extra space where I'd like a title will be is where a sale price would go with a red / thru the MSRP.

Good to see it up and running on Day 1, even if it does need an update.

You know what, all this talk about not having enough news about this system hasnt been that bad. its kept my hype levels pretty low and now there building at just the right time. 2 days to go woooo

@SLIGEACH_EIRE That assumes games that came on the 3DS and Wii U will be on the Switch as well. Virtual Console games I really hope they do. But stuff like BoxBoy or Tokyo Mirage Sessions cost money to port over.

Also you have to remember they both use a stylus touchscreen. It is massively different to a smartphone touchscreen approach.

Games Development isn't about throwing games onto many platforms on a whim. They take redesigns, planning and thorough development and testing. It's something I wish a lot of gamers read up on more.

@eeyore I basically consider it a powerful portable that can connect to the tv, no matter how much they want to say it's both

I like the clean, uncluttered look.

I hope there's a way to integrate gold/platinum coins on my.nintendo and use them against Switch purchases...

@Nintendoforlife You can already buy eShop content for the 3DS, Wii U, and Switch from your smart phone, tablet, or computer. It's not an app, but the Nintendo website makes it really simple.

I really wish the eShop had more ads.

I like how clean it looks but its giving me Windows 8 vibes...

Hopefully it still has nice music! I loved that aspect from the 3DS and Wii U eShop!

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I'll be happy if they just let us transfer digital purchases to the Switch and leave them there. (Should happen for VC games, at least.) The Switch is all-in-one, so you don't really need a game on anything else.

You remember in college when you threw together an interface prototype just to have something so you could run your background functionality in your programming classes? Yeah... That's what this looks like.

I'm loving how slick and simple this new eShop is. I can see the similarities with the Wii U one but it's different enough to be it's own thing. What I always hated about the Wii U eShop is that looking through game screenshots in the eShop were always a pain but now it looks nice and simple.

@Grandpa_Pixel I should have clarified that I'm talking about VC games.

Looks good, though I'm ready to hear something about the Virtual Console.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE and that might be the very reason this hasn't been detailed yet, maybe they are working on something that isn't ready to be announced just yet

I vote for Nintendolife being on the Switch's News feed!

I'm not a fan of the metro-style eshop.

@Morph Nintendo have just updated their Nintendo account ahead of the Switch's launch. Reading through the terms and conditions, it doesn't look like they've any intent to share VC games with more than 1 device.

https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/eula/IE?lang=en-US

"Except as otherwise provided, the licence for a Digital Product is tied to your Nintendo Account and allows you to use the Digital Product only on one User Device you have linked to your Nintendo Account and to which the Digital Product has been downloaded. Except as otherwise provided, all users on your linked User Device may use the respective Digital Product."

@SLIGEACH_EIRE That doesn't make a whole lot of difference, though. Even porting classic games to a new console requires tweaking, some optimization, and testing. It's not a smooth process by any means, and to think so is just being naive.

I mean yeah, I would love it if all of the Wii U or 3DS Virtual Console games were available on Switch on VC's day one, but that is a very unrealistic expectation and just wishful thinking. I don't expect it to happen whatsoever.

Quality can't wait.

Why is it that when I watch these Switch infomercials...I feel like I am being prepped for a journey to Mira!

It's simple, but that's a good thing for UI.

Looks clean and simple, which I like a lot.

Clean-cut without all the bloat. I like it.

Looks good! Thought snipperclips was going to be 19.99 though

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Thats the same terms that Sony have with the PS4. Your purchase is tied to your account, your account can log into multiple devices, but it can only be used by one console at a time.

AAAAAAAHHHHH CAN'T WAIT!!!

@eeyore I think everybody knows it's a portable console - there's no arguing against that. It's just being marketed as a home console. Nintendo just wants to push the home console aspect in marketing, as the dock and the ability to play on the TV then take it on the go is what makes their system unique.

Ugly but functional, again.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I don't think very many people EVER thought you'd magically carry your games over from one console to the next. The hardware isn't backward compatible. You can't just take old binaries and execute them on the Switch. MAYBE if the Switch becomes a family, then going forward they could allow that if the Switch 2 uses the same architecture. But there was always a 0% chance of carrying over WiiU or 3DS purchases to Switch. That would just be giving away new code for free. What most were hoping for was some kind of prior purchase discount. I never thought it was likely, but the chance of it happening was greater than zero. And that would apply only to games that are on both platforms to begin with...which isn't likely to be too many.

@hYdeks I think we all agree that's it's a powerful handheld that can connect to the TV BUT at what point is there actually a difference between a console and a handheld on the TV? The Switch is more powerful than WiiU. So if WiiU is a console, the switch, when on the TV can't NOT be a console. I think that's the point they're trying to drive home with the "it's a home console you can take with you." Also the $60 price points on games need to be explained somehow...

Very nice design. Very sleek, very minimalist. Maybe it looks a little sparse and uninteresting, but it's a store, that's not a bad thing. And I'm sure they'll sell you themes later...

At least it's loading fast rather than the slow waiting game that is WiiU and 3DS eshop (seriously how can it take that long to load a web store page?) Looks way easier to navigate than the PSN store, which is a plus. Half the time I can't find what I'm looking for on there even if I search for it.

I'm sure they'll add details and descriptions later...but so far it looks great!

The only thing that I hope isn't missing: I notice it's not showing the download size. That's an important piece of information for an eshop. Hopefully it's on the screen somewhere out of frame.

@Reginald I hear you but Sony does this very thing very well. Cross Buy is something they do so well especially with PS3 indie titles that get a PS4 version and it's free if you owned it on PS3.

Simple and Orange.

@eeyore that's because they want people to recognize it when they see someone carrying it around.

@Moneyjaypr7
Yaaaa. Sony did crossbuy really well.... last generation. But this generation it's been a complete about face. Not one single VC game shared between Vita and PS4. And I truly believe the reason for that is because they screwed the pooch last generation by overpromising. Now they're in a situation where they willfully choose to not release virtual console across their two platforms because now they have to give them away for free or people rage. So, they just don't release any on PS4.

Of course, third parties can still choose to do crossbuy if they so desire, and I really think the best examples we've seen this generation have actually come from indy developers. Thankfully with the Switch being a handheld and console in one, we basically get system level cross-buy built in to every game we purchase. Even the system itself is, in a way, crossbuy lol. Buy one system, get both handheld and console, and every game bought for it includes both handheld and console versions.

Really awesome actually.

March 2nd and finally!!

I can use eshop cards here right? Gonna download 1 2 Switch and have a $50.00 eshop card ready to go!

@eeyore well that's because the Nintendo brass has no idea what they're doing.

"In case you somehow weren't aware, the eShop allows you to digitally purchase software"

Let's not make too many assumptions here, we're talking about Nintendo and their fan base. I'm pretty sure half of the owners of Nintendo consoles have never even accessed the eShop, or gone online at all.

@JaxonH and yet, Sony is in first place running away despite all that. Also, Vita is dead; probably another factor.

It would be great for the 3DS to receive an update that change the UI. Not the same "stability updates" we have been receiving from 2 or 3 years now.

@Radbot42 $24.99 is the price for Shovel Knight.

I like the look of this on the whole, although some of the screens look a little too minimalist. Blown up, it certainly would look like a mobile OS.

@gatorboi352
Well I wouldn't expect such a trivial matter such as lack of crossbuy to topple the console market leader.

But that's kind of the point I'm making- it's trivial. Nice if you get it, most definitely, but if not, it's not the end of the world and it's not going to stop a console from selling. Likewise it's not going to cause a console to sell either, as we see with MS and their PC crossbuy (which ironically, Microsoft does crossbuy more than anyone else now, yet it's done little to help them).

@Lizuka Yeah, it feels like Nintendo's copying Sony too much lately. Even the Switch box doesn't look very Nintendo-like.
I hate to be "that guy," but it feels like Nintendo's losing their quirky uniqueness, and spirit in favor of "what's trendy" or trying to be "mature" in electronic devices/business. I don't want them to become Sony, or Microsoft. (Nothing against them.)

I agree with some of the sentiments: It looks very simple. For me that's enough though. As long as I can find the games that I want, I am good!