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Nintendo has officially revealed the Nintendo Network for the Wii U – an online service that allows users to communicate and buy downloadable content.
In other words, Ninty has finally gotten around to producing an equivalent to Xbox LIVE and PSN.
The first references to the Network were reported by andriasang last week, who spotted a new logo on dummy box art for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. This morning, Nintendo president Sartoru Iwata formally unveiled the service in a briefing to investors.
Iwata promises competitions and the ability for users to communicate with each other, among other things. These functions may sound like bread and water as far as gaming networks go, but given the slumbering pace with which Nintendo has embraced online functionality, this is landmark progress.
The president also made reference to plans for digital distribution, though it sounds like Nintendo is being typically reticent on this front:
“We are also considering the future possibility of digital distribution of packaged software, which is often referred to as ‘software download sales’,” said Iwata.
“This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure. We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it.”
Iwata explained that Nintendo would have to consider its relationship with retailers, as well as issues relating to how people would actually store their download games. Still, he eventually conceded:
“However, as an option for the future, the significance of this business field will increase.”
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