Nintendo 3DS eShop, Browser and DSiWare Transfers Due in Late May

While the Nintendo 3Ds is due to launch on March 27 in North America for $249.99, several of the handheld's useful features won't be available until "late May," company president Satoru Iwata revealed in a financial results briefing last week.

The 3DS' digital store the 'eShop' will all arrive in the first system update, currently slated to launch "at almost the same time around the world" in "late May," as will the option to transfer DSiWare games from a Nintendo DSi to a 3DS, and the Internet browser.

"We hoped that we would be able to provide you with [DSiWare transfers] at the launch," Iwata explained. "However, as it will be practicable through Nintendo eShop, we can't help asking you to wait for the release of Nintendo eShop after the first system update." Nintendo also plans 3DS-to-3DS transfers, launching at a later date.

Iwata criticised the slow, awkward browser-based Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop, calling the 3DS eShop a "drastically redesigned" and comfortable shopping experience.

He also revealed that the 3DS Internet browser will be one of the functions players can launch from inside games, along with the Friend List, Friend Notifications and Game Notes--little notes you can write while the game is still displayed on one screen.