A new firmware update for the 3DS is online and ready for download as of tonight. The main new feature is that the handheld now supports the Nintendo Network ID system and Miiverse. If you have an NNID already as a Wii U owner, you can link that account to your 3DS. The immediate benefit of doing so is that it will merge your eShop wallets on both systems.

Miiverse on 3DS is looking pretty smooth so far. Not many communities for 3DS games yet, but given time that's bound to change.

This would be cool, if I ever planned on purchasing anything from Nintendo's digital services... ever. But I don't because the way they handle their shit sucks.

I'm updating right now. While I still prefer physical to digital Nintendo games for the time being, this is a step in the right direction for how they handle things.

Also missing is some legitimate communication options between friends. It seems Nintendo would rather you talk to strangers than people you know, weirdness. The MiiVerse has a lot of potential, hopefully they add a few more features.

Oh shiiiit, time to make some silly drawings (if that's in the 3DS version?).

Yeah, it's definitely a stripped down incarnation of Miiverse functionality. It's likely that they'll add friend functionality at a later date, but it does carry over your Wii U activity feed, so you can still see posts from friends there.

http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/built-in-software/miiverse

I tried to post a screenshot in Pokemon X, but I couldn't figure out how to. I see people posting Zelda screenshots though, so maybe Pokemon just isn't a supported game, which is kind of a letdown if it's on a per game basis. That was one of the features I was looking forward to the most.

@hailinel: I just sorta want to chat with friends or have a group made up of people I know. Maybe in the future.

Posting functionality is the same as on Wii U. You can leave text messages or sketches.

Cool! I still have like 16 dollars on my Wii U from my Fire Emblem and SMTIV bonus money. Maybe I can find something on 3ds to buy.

ooo A linked account where your eShop wallet is cross-platform? That sounds nice.

It also sounds like a step toward them eventually attaching your eShop purchases to an account instead of a physical system. That's all I really want.

Well, and the ability to take screenshots in any game. I've been spoiled on Animal Crossing, and now, out of reflex, I hit both L and R in other games, expecting to have it take a screenshot... I just want to share how pretty and fun many of these 3DS games are!

If you create a NNID you can't change region anymore? What if you actually physically move to another region/country and need to?

The functionality is still not there? Call me paranoid but I haven't bought a thing from the eshop because of that and I buy stuff constantly on Steam and PSN. Missing out on Ace Attorney and HarmoKnight is a pain.

Just updated my 3Ds and linked my existing nintendo account from the WiiU. Now I am not able to access the 3DS eShop. I checked the support forums at nintendo.com and it looks like lots of people are having this problem. Internet seams to still be working, pulled up a few web pages in the browser, just the eShop wont load past the screen where it shows you using your new nintendo ID.

@scullinator: Might be traffic related? I had no issues last night after the update.

I got online to the eShop eventually but it hung up on the loading screen for about 5 minutes. That was about half an hour ago.

Miiverse is cool and all but then I asked myself in all honesty how many times will I probably actually use the application? My answer is probably never. Heck I've had my 3ds since launch and just found out about the "notifications" button on the toolbar.

This is a step in the right direction, but I still can't believe they haven't figured out how to tie games to accounts instead of hardware. Handhelds are the perfect place for downloadable games because I can carry my whole library around with me on an SD card, but I don't want to buy anything if I lose it all when my 3DS eventually breaks.

Indeed, truly crazy. I don't carry my 3ds around as much as I use to since finding this out. Since maybe the start of this year I've bought all of my games for the 3ds digitally. That's well over 300 dollars worth of 3ds games I've purchased that I might lose if something happens to my 3ds. Get your shit together nintendo.

Is there really no way to transfer stuff between systems if your 3DS happens to die? I had a look on the eshop the other day and I'm quite tempted to buy some games, but my 3DS is quite old at this point...

If your system dies I believe you can just send it to nintendo and they can transfer your stuff either with a fee or warranty. If you lose it I think that's where shit gets hairy.

- Hey Nintendo should of spent that 240 million for Robinson Cano on a better online system.

@i_stay_puft:

I've heard of people who have lost or broken their 3ds contacting Nintendo with their system serial number and getting eshop codes to replace their digital stuff. I don't know if that's normal or the exception though, and how much customer service calling is required. I don't know if they can look up a serial number if you registered the system , so probably best bet would be to write down or take a picture of it as a precaution.

This thread is reminding me that I should buy Harmoknight and Phoenix Wright, but I have other games, some still sealed, that I really should get through first.