Wii U and 3DS paid downloadable content will be available in the future confirmed Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, during an investor Q&A.
Iwata stated that developers would have the option of selling extra digital content for upcoming 3DS games by the end of the year, and that this option would also exist for the Nintendo Wii U.
While paid DLC is available in select Wii and WiiWare titles (such as Rock Band), until now Nintendo has not made it clear whether paid DLC would be offered for 3DS games or for Wii U titles.
However, Iwata made it sound as if Nintendo themselves are not that interested in paid DLC for their own games, stating that paid DLC would increase Nintendo’s own profit in the short-term, but would have a negative effect on their relationship with their customers in the long-term. While also adding that Nintendo had no interest in pursuing the free-to-play online model.
Iwata also revealed that people have been using the online features of the 3DS much more than that of the DSi, and reiterated that Nintendo is going to put more focus on downloadable software for the foreseeable future, saying it is a “major point” for Nintendo and the 3DS for at least the next three years, and that they will promote downloadable games better than they have in the past.
Of course, with the 3DS now supporting Netflix, it’s not a surprise that people are connecting online a lot more with it than with the DSi.
Do you think that Nintendo will be able to make an online infrastructure that will compete with the XBLA/PSN by the time the Wii U rolls around?