Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata has revealed through a financial results briefing, that the company plans to make Wii U retail games available in stores as well as through digital distribution at launch. These digital versions will probably be doled out via Nintendo Network that was revealed by the Japanese giant in January this year.
The Wii U won’t be out until late this year. A number of elite titles like Batman: Arkham City and Assassin’s Creed III have been announced to be under development for it. The Wii U is Nintendo’s sixth home console, and also the company’s first to generate high-definition graphics. Its unique controller features an embedded touchscreen, allowing games to be played even when the TV screens are switched off.
“For the Wii U, we will start the digital download sales of packaged software that I just discussed, so our consumers can choose either the packaged version or the digital download version of the same software from day one of the Wii U’s launch,” said Satoru Iwata, President, Nintendo.
It has also come to light that a somewhat similar policy will be applied for games on the 3DS. Starting with New Super Mario Bros. 2 which is due this August, some 3DS games on the eShop will be outed in packaged form. A new title which is tentatively called Onitore, is also scheduled to be launched in this fashion.
This news about Wii U retail games planned to be sold digitally at launch comes at a time when anticipation regarding Nintendo’s latest console is at an all time high. It is slated to release in the last quarter of 2012.