Paid DLC functionality coming to 3DS, Wii U

3DS and Wii U developers will have the option to sell digital items in-game, Satoru Iwata revealed during an investor Q&A (summarized by Andriasang). Developers will have the option to sell extra content on 3DS by the end of the year; naturally, it won't arrive on Wii U until, like, the Wii U exists. For reference, both Wii and WiiWare games can offer paid DLC right now.

Iwata said that the use of paid DLC would increase Nintendo's own short-term profits, it wouldn't have a positive affect on the company's "relationship with customers," suggesting that this option will be used by third parties only. He also mentioned that Nintendo had no interest in free-to-play games.

Apparently, the 3DS internet connection is much more widely used than that of the DS. Iwata expressed an interest in promoting the purchase of downloadable software, an initiative that, according to Andriasang's translation, will be "a major point" for Nintendo in the next three years. Step one: actually offer a selection of downloads.