Nintendo could open an eBook store for the Wii U console

January 5, 2012 By Andy Boxall

Nintendo is rumored to be planning an eBook download service for its forthcoming Wii U console, with downloaded publications being read on the touchscreen controller, or a Nintendo 3DS.

Following news that Nintendo will introduce an application store with its forthcoming Wii U console, a rumor has appeared that an eBook download service could be introduced too. This builds on the speculation that Nintendo wants its next console to be more than just a games machine.

Quoting an unnamed software developer who has been working with Nintendo, Forgetthebox.net was told of a complete eBook download service, featuring not only books, but comics, magazines and newspapers too.

One of the Wii U’s unique features is its 6.2-inch touchscreen controller, and it’s here that the eBooks would be read, using the standard page turning swipes to browse through them. Nintendo will also make the publications available on the 3DS handheld console, emulating Apple, Amazon and Google’s approach to adding benefits to those who show brand loyalty.

In addition to third-party publications, Nintendo will possibly dig into its own back-catalog by releasing its official strategy guides. These guides covered games on the NES, Gameboy, SNES, Gamecube and so on, and many are out of print now, but they’d be offered for free via Nintendo’s Wii U eBook store. That’s not all either, as any games you download would have an electronic instruction booklet included too.

Finally, there’s a chance the company will reprint every issue of its Nintendo Power magazine inside the store, providing fans of older Nintendo products a great opportunity to revisit old reviews and articles.

Like the console itself, there are still plenty of unanswered questions here, such as pricing, agreements with publishers and the amount of zooming one would have to do to read a magazine on a 6.2-inch screen.

Nintendo is likely to be showing off the Wii U at CES next week, so perhaps it won’t be long before we get the official word on this interesting development.

Showing 8 comments

Marcena Cashman at 6:10am 6th January 2012 I love ebooks. When I first started reading them I would often find myself licking my finger to turn the page. LOL. Now when I read a paper book I find myself tapping on words that I don't know the meaning of to get the definition like on my iPad. Der.
Marcena Cashman at 6:10am 6th January 2012 I love ebooks. When I first started reading them I would often find myself licking my finger to turn the page. LOL. Now when I read a paper book I find myself tapping on words that I don't know the meaning of to get the definition like on my iPad. Der.
Ryan Miller at 4:44pm 5th January 2012 I like my tab more so for periodicals than books. However, publishers really need to work on their price points. A digital copy of a monthly periodical should be .99 or less. Some are are still trying to get full retail- no way!
Miles Rose at 2:43pm 5th January 2012 I've got a kindle and all and it's nice, but I still do prefer physical copies.
Julliago Santos at 2:37pm 5th January 2012 When I was young, I used to dream of this technology being available. Now that it is here, I find I prefer a physical copy.
Alan Hughes at 2:27pm 5th January 2012 There really needs to be a universal ebook file so that ten years down the road when all these random companies go out of business or give up on ebooks, people arent stuck with some strange file they spent $20 on but can't open any more.
Luis Lauranzon at 1:56pm 5th January 2012 I love ebooks. But ebooks for the wii u? C'mon.
Michael Pei at 1:30pm 5th January 2012 First HD Zelda, now this. Nintendo has amazed me once again. :D