Nintendo details 3DS retail game download options

With the release of New Super Mario Bros 2 and Demon Training fast approaching (they’re out next week in Japan) Nintendo has issued instructions on just how to buy the games digitally from the eShop.

They’ll be three ways you’ll be able to buy Nintendo 3DS games digitally going forward, at least in Japan.

With each Nintendo release going forward you’ll have the choice of either buying a Download Card, Download Codes for the game or directly downloading the game from the eShop. New Super Mario Bros 2 and Demon Training will go on sale at 9am on the day of release.

The download card is what you would expect. You buy a card containing a redemption code for the game and you can activate it on your Nintendo 3DS.

The second option may include buying a Download Code from an online store such as Amazon, this code would be emailed to you and redeemed there. This means retailers could sell games digitally for cheaper than what Nintendo are asking for on the eShop. Codes will expire after 150 days.

The last method is of course to directly download the game to your Nintendo 3DS. The games will cost the same as they do in stores, this is most likely so Nintendo doesn’t annoy its retail partners. You can of course pick up the game from in store, just like you do now.

For those worried about Club Nintendo points, fear not because as long as your Club Nintendo account is linked to your Nintendo 3DS you will receive the same amount of points you get when you buy a game now.

Nintendo in Japan are also running a promotion for New Super Mario Bros 2 and Demon Training where you will receive more points if you buy them digitally, more again if you buy both. You’ll also get Donkey Kong on the Famicon (NES) as a bonus for buying them together.

Now this of course all only applies to Japan for now, New Super Mario Bros 2 is still a month away from release for the rest of the world so we’ll have to wait until then to see what strategy Nintendo go for with everyone else.

Anyone else excited to be able to buy games digitally for the 3DS and not have to carry around cards or do you prefer a boxed copy?

Thanks to Cheesemeister3k for translation help!