Starting today Nintendo digital downloads will be available for purchase on Amazon.
Wii U, Wii, and 3DS digital codes will be available for purchase directly from Nintendo through the online retailer — even Virtual Console titles will be available. The purchasing of these codes will work the same way it works on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 with consumers purchasing, then redeeming on the respective console.
Nintendo has, also, moved their history of not discounting their games in any significant way over to Amazon. Super Mario 3D World is still being sold for $59.99 two years after its initial release; admittedly, it’s a fantastic game, but come on Nintendo. Albeit, anytime Nintendo takes a step into the future we should celebrate, so…yay?!
The decision to sell Nintendo digital downloads comes after a rather secretive, speculative spat between Amazon and Nintendo. Amazon stopped selling the Nintendo 3DS directly –it was still available for purchase from third-party sellers– shortly after its launch. Reports of screen scratching on the 3DS were causing customers to return the product to Amazon, and Amazon was reaching out to Nintendo for a full credit on the 3DS, which Nintendo was not too happy with. Again, these were just rumors, and neither company ever made an official statement on why Amazon stopped selling the 3DS directly.
Nintendo digital downloads being sold on Amazon doesn’t seem to offer much to the consumer. The prices are the same as the same as the eShop‘s. Presumably, the benefit is convenience?
