Nintendo now allows e-shopping on its official website

Nintendo’s website now allows you to buy certain downloadable games directly, forgoing the need to hop on to the eShop on your 3DS or Wii U. Eagle-eyed types saw a new “Buy Digital” button on Nintendo’s North American site this week, allowing you to either buy and receive an eShop code or tie the purchase to your Nintendo Network ID. As a FAQ explains, if you use your NNID, that leaves the game ready to redeem and download on your Nintendevice.

Nintendo of America is now offering the ability to digitally purchase and pre-order select games through the company’s website. Once purchased, Nintendo will ask if you want a download code for the 3DS or Wii U game or to have the title sent directly to your console by signing in with a Nintendo Network ID. Only a select number of games — all of which are first-party published — are on sale on Nintendo’s website, such as Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright, and Hyrule Warriors. In addition, Nintendo has a pre-order option for games not out yet. Like the games on sale, all of them are first-party published titles, including Fantasy Life, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Pokemon Omega Ruby Version, and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire Version. The company will send a code once the game launches or download it to your console, similar to the purchase option. However, there isn’t a pre-load option.