Nintendo Network

Satoru Iwata revealed more details about Nintendo Network at a recent investor’s briefing in Japan, sharing that this new system (and yes, it is a new system, rather than a re-branding) will be implemented in the 3DS and the Wii U. The new services under this new system include downloadable content (which we were already aware was coming to the 3DS). There is also the possibility of full retail game download though. But Iwata did note that Nintendo has not decided when it will roll out this feature.

For the past few days we’ve been wondering what ‘Nintendo Network’ could be. In response to a customer’s question on the matter, the following was said by a customer service representative:

Nintendo WFC (Wi-Fi Connection) and Nintendo Network are one and the same. This is not to be confused with any other network or connection as our servers are integrated to one another.

And there you have it. It seems like ‘Nintendo Network’ is just a re-branding of ‘Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection’, though we won’t know for sure until we receive an official statement from Nintendo.

(via mynintendonews.com)

A few days ago a logo for “Nintendo Network” appeared on a game’s box art. This gave rise to rumors about a revamped online system for Nintendo’s platforms. This is something I’m doubtful about (as it appears much more likely to be a re-branding) but if you want to hold on to hope, then you may be interested to hear that Nintendo of America has registered NintendoNetwork.net and started redirecting it to their main site. They missed out on the .com but it shouldn’t be difficult for them to grab that later on.

What does this mean? Well, not a whole lot really. They’d want the name even if this is just a re-branding. But I still hope I’m wrong and I still hope this is much more than it appears to be.

I already shared my doubt that the appearance of a “Nintendo Network” logo on the box art for a game was more than a re-branding of the 3DS’s network connectivity features. And that was before I was reminded that Mario Kart 7 connects to the Nintendo Network every time you want to play against others via the internet.

But a conveniently anonymous source has apparently said that:

Nintendo will launch a website accessible from any web browser that will handle configuration of your Nintendo Network account for use on the Wii U or 3DS. He also stated that Nintendo Network will include many new features that haven’t been used before by Nintendo. According to his accounts: Nintendo Network = Sony PSN = Xbox Live.

If I’m wrong, I’ll be the first to admit it. But this quote is so vague that it could be chalked up to a lucky guess if Nintendo does end up making interesting changes in the future. It also seems to be exactly what people want to hear, which makes me hesitant to believe it’s anything but total baloney.