Wii U games to release at retail and as downloads

Nintendo is getting ready to make it easier than ever for customers to download games directly to their consoles, according to plans laid out by company boss Satoru Iwata in April 27's quarterly Financial Results Briefing.

Games for the Wii U, Nintendo's late-2012 home console, will be released simultaneously at retail and as digital downloads when the console launches later this year.

Customers will be able to buy games on disc from brick and mortar stores or directly from Nintendo's online eShop.

That's in contrast to Microsoft's current approach, which sees retail games arrive first and download versions a few months down the line.

The handheld Nintendo 3DS will also benefit from the new policy upon the arrival of New Super Mario Bros 2 in August, and Nintendo is expected to adopt the same approach for other 3DS games it publishes.

For the 3DS at least, Nintendo eShop download codes will also be sold in stores, where customers can benefit from retailer guidance and download their games immediately should wifi be available.

More on Nintendo's April 2012 briefing: nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/120427/index.html