The company has finally added the option to buy stuff online

Oct 16, 2014 14:44 GMT  ·  By

Nintendo has finally joined the ranks of the other platform holders, making it easy to purchase, download and play games from just about anywhere in the world, opening its own web store.

Services like Microsoft's Xbox Live and Sony's PlayStation Network enabled gamers all across the world to enjoy games easier and to make purchases through a web browser, and the Big N has finally decided to offer a similar service.

Up until now, gamers had to access the eShop exclusively through their Wii U and 3DS devices in order to make digital purchases, but now they can simply log into Nintendo's website, look up a title they're interested in, and then select the option to buy it.

Simply selecting the Buy Digital option for any specific 3DS or Wii U game will enable gamers to receive download code that can be sent either to their specified email address or directly to their Wii U or 3DS console, to download while in Sleep Mode or while idle.

An unusually quiet launch

The introduction of the option to buy digital games straight from Nintendo's website got a quiet soft launch, perhaps due to the fact that the Japanese corporation was embarrassed about being so late to the party.

In any case, numerous reports state that a number of recent releases for the Nintendo Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS devices are now available to purchase through Nintendo's website, just like through the storefronts on the Sony Entertainment Network and the Xbox Games Store.

Furthermore, gamers can now also pre-order their favorite upcoming titles for both the Wii U and the 3DS, and make sure that they'll be able to enjoy them on day one.

Support is limited for the time being

For now, the option to buy digital titles through Nintendo's website is only limited to a small number of recent releases from Nintendo, with games such as Hyrule Warriors and Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. and Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS.

The option to pre-order is currently limited to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Fantasy Life, Pokemon Omega Ruby, and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire, but other titles are being added and discovered.

Given the option's recent inclusion on Nintendo's website, it's most likely going to take a while until we are able to purchase the entirety of the two platforms' ecosystems, or at least the titles published by Nintendo, but it's still an important step forward.