3DS eShop

Intelligent Systems, developer of the beloved strategy series Advance Wars, will release its first 3DS game, Hiku-Osu, on the Japanese eShop next week. More >

Nintendo's two most beloved characters arrive on the 3DS eShop this week with the releases of The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. More >

The much-loved Zen Pinball will be released for 3DS this autumn, developer Zen Studios has revealed. More >

It's little surprise that Cut The Rope will be released on DSiWare this week given its success - it was downloaded six million times in its first four months - but given Nintendo's stance on small independent, or "garage" developers, it's heartening to see a true mobile success story available as a download for Nintendo handhelds. However, those that take this as a sign that Nintendo has changed its policy on smartphone software should note that it's priced at €5, compared to just 69p on the iOS App Store. It'll also be available on the eShop, the 3DS download store on which an updated 3D version of NES shooter Twinbee will also be released this week.

No news yet on whether the other Japanese release dates announced overnight hold true in Europe, but Nintendo has just confirmed that The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords will be available to European customers on September 28. Compatible with DSi and 3DS, this version adds a singleplayer mode of sorts by letting lone warriors switch between two characters with a button press, and adds two new areas, each containing three levels.

The Ambassador Programme, Nintendo's make-good plan for early adopters following the global 3DS price drop, isn't supposed to launch until tomorrow, but Destructoid reports that the ten free NES games on offer are available now. They're not on the eShop itself just yet, but eligible users should head to the Your Downloads section of the eShop's Settings screen where all ten games are waiting to be downloaded.

The Ambassador Programme - Nintendo's way of compensating early adopters for the 3DS price drop - begins on September 1. We're yet to receive a final list of the games on offer to European gamers, and have sought confirmation, but in the meantime Nintendo has announced the ten NES games that will be available to Japanese users: Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong Jr, Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, The Legend Of Zelda, Wrecking Crew, Mario Open Golf, Mario & Yoshi, Metroid, and The Legend Of Zelda II.

US 3DS owners will have to wait for the Nintendo Video application, which was released on the eShop yesterday but is currently set for a US release later this summer. In the meantime, US movie streaming service Netflix is to launch an app of its own on the 3DS download store tomorrow. An oddly-worded announcement says that full-length 3D movies will soon be available to US 3DS owners, but doesn't specify if that will be through Netflix - which does not currently offer 3D movies - or a separate app.

This week's update for Nintendo's nascent 3DS download store includes Virtual Console releases of Qix, Taito's 1981 arcade game which was released for the Game Boy in 1990. It's joined by another Game Boy title, Jaleco's top-down shooter Fortified Zone. Both games will be available from Thursday, July 7, which is also your last chance to download the free 3D port of NES classic Excite Bike.

On stage at E3, Shigeru Miyamoto announces Game Boy classic to be available worldwide through 3DS online store by the end of the day.

Nintendo's 3D handheld has now been granted its first update, which adds the eShop marketplace and an internet browser. Initial reports suggest that some owners are having problems, including errors when attempting to visit the shop and link Club Nintendo accounts. Reports also suggest that the north American eShop is rather fuller stocked than the European one, which only features three Virtual Console titles, Pokedex 3D and Excitebike in addition to DSiWare.

Game Boy games, 3D versions of Excitebike and Xevious, and two original games available at launch on June 7. Nintendo UK tells us: "an announcement will be made shortly."