The Nintendo Wii U and 3DS are to get a pre-load feature for games in the future.
Nintendo has confirmed Smash Bros on Wii U will be the first game to introduce the feature, but in the future more game will be able to be pre-loaded ahead of release.
Digital games on the Wii U and 3DS at the moment can only be bought and downloaded on the day of release.
The pre-download feature is already available on the Xbox One and PS4, but this marks the first time Nintendo has implemented the functionality.
Satoru Iwata, Nintendo President, revealed the news during the company’s latest financial results briefing with investors.
“Using this system, consumers will not have to wait for a long time to download the game after its release,” said Iwata. “They will then be able to start playing the game by only downloading a requisite minimum amount of upload data.”
Not only will the feature be available from the digital storefronts, but customers will also be able to purchase download cards sold in high-street stores.
This means, in theory, retailers will be able to offer download codes for Wii U and 3DS games ahead of their release, which players will be able to redeem and download ready to start playing on launch day.
“We are working on various approaches to make the digital business more user-friendly by providing a variety of payment methods, expanding distribution channels and enhancing consumer convenience.”
The pre-loading system will only be available on the Wii U in 2014. The 3DS will gain the functionality next year.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
