Nintendo mulls auto 3DS firmware updates

Nintendo is looking into making the 3DS automatically download firmware updates from the internet.

The move may enable Nintendo to combat piracy more effectively than it has done with the DS.

During an investor question and answer session (translated by Andriasang), an attendee asked CEO Satoru Iwata if Nintendo will implement anti-piracy measures via the internet. He replied: "As part of the functionality of SpotPass, we're looking into having automatic system updates via the internet."

SpotPass means 3DS units set to sleep mode will not only communicate with other 3DS units but the internet via Wi-Fi.

However, Iwata said piracy prevention is secondary to offering new functionality to owners. Once the system has found an access point, it will download rankings, ghost data, free software and notifications.

Meanwhile, Iwata said Nintendo expects to keep game prices around the same price point as current DS releases.

"We don't believe that the world is in a state where high priced software will sell well, so we don't believe it will be in a price range too far off from current DS software," Iwata said.

The 3DS, revealed at E3 2010 and dated and priced for Japan last week, is due out in Europe and the US in March.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...rmware-updates