On June 6, 2011, via a major update, the Nintendo eShop became available for the3DS. At launch, the eShop featured the following:
DSiWare
DSiWare titles are available to download on the eShop. DSiWare games are stored in the system's internal memory instead of the SD card. They can be moved to the SD card, but must be moved back to system memory before they can be played.DSi games can be transferred over to the the 3DS via DS Download Play. Once the process is complete the games are removed from the DSi and the process cannot be reversed. Not all DSiWare is available on the eShop. Titles cannot be transferred until they are listed on the eShop.
3DS Original Software
Referred to as "Nintendo 3DS Downloads" in the Nintendo eShop. New, original 3DS games are available to download, such asLet's Golf 3D andDillon's Rolling Western. The prices of these titles currently range from $5.99 - $8.99
3DS Virtual Console
The Nintendo 3DS features its ownVirtual Console. Users are able to download old games from theGame Boy,Game Boy Color,Game Boy Advance andNES. Prices for these titles range from $2.99 to $3.99 for original Game Boy games and $5.99 for Game Boy Color games. On February 22nd 2012, Nintendo announced thatGame Gear andTurboGrafx-16 titles will be available on the eShop starting March. On September 12 2012, Nintendo of Australia's website updated with a GBA Virtual Console section before an official announcement had been made in that regard.
None of these games are displayed in 3D.
3D Classics
At GDC 2011,Nintendo has announced that they're going to remake classic Nintendo games to be displayed in 3D. The first game to be remade wasExcitebike, which was free for all 3DS users until July 31, after which it cost $5.99.
Other games that have been converted to 3D includeXevious,TwinBee,Kirby's Adventure, andUrban Champion, with prices ranging from $4.99 to $6.99.
Game Promotion
The Nintendo eShop features special hubs for retail games as well as original software, 3DS Virtual Console games, 3D Classics, and videos. Similar to the Nintendo Channel on theWii, game publishers can promote their games by releasing demos, showing trailers and images, and even allowing users to review their products.
Multimedia Features
Starting summer of 2011, the Nintendo 3DS will get its own Netflix app, with which Netflix subscribers can stream 3D movies from the internet to the 3DS. Nintendo has also stated that users can suspend playback on the 3DS and continue watching it on a TV using theWii console.
In October 2011, Nintendo revealed that Hulu Plus would be coming to Wii and 3DS by the end of the year.
3DS Ambassador Program
Due to lackluster 3DS sales, Nintendo lowered the price of the 3DS to $169.99 in the United States, 15,000 Yen in Japan, and the European prices were cut by a third. To compensate for early adopters, Nintendo created the Ambassador program. By connecting to the eShop by August 12, 3DS owners were eligible to receive 20 free games on the Nintendo eShop, 10NES games and 10Game Boy Advance games. Nintendo initially stated to have no plans to release the Game Boy Avance games for sale.
These games do not have added 3D capability and the NES versions were incomplete when released on September 1st with updates to arrive at later points (coinciding with the respective game's official eShop debut). Ambassadors are able to download updated versions of the NES games at no extra charge. The GBA games were made available on December 16th for all Ambassadors.
Ambassador NES Games
Ambassador GBA Games