Well this is different. It looks like Nintendo are creating a new web eShop system of sorts and the first entry into it will come from the world of Mario Kart 8.
The eShop, which features two different DLC packs for Mario Kart 8 has a veritable ton of stuff for long-time players of the game. The first pack, tentatively dubbed The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8, features Link, Mario in a Tanooki costume, and Peach in what can only be described as a giant cat costume. Alongside these new racers come four new vehicles, including an F-Zero style kart design, and a total of 8 new courses which are placed into two different cups.
The second DLC pack is a little more mysterious as it doesn’t yet have any information on what the new vehicles will be. That being said, 8 new courses are still advertised in two different cups. The three additional characters placed into this pack include Dry Bowser, the Villager, and Isabelle from Animal Crossing.
This DLC isn’t the key feature here though. It’s been known for a long time that there will be DLC coming to Mario Kart 8.
What is key is that this is being sold, to Japanese customers only right now, via an internet-based store run by Nintendo for digital products. We’ve become used to things like this with PSN and Xbox Live, but Nintendo haven’t really gotten around to it yet.
This online store, which in all fairness comes across as a little basic in its current form, has the tag for Nintendo Network in the top left hand corner. In order to buy anything, you’ll have to log into a Japanese Nintendo Network ID (NNID). Looking at it all though, this could be the first step Nintendo has taken into selling its digital goods via a browser-based store that can be accessed on any PC.
Are you tempted by the Mario Kart 8 DLC? Or are you a little surprised that it’s taken Nintendo this long to actually get a web-based eShop up and running? Let us know in the comments.
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