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GDC: Nintendo 3DS to feature Netflix support

At today's Game Developers Conference keynote, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that the 3DS will feature Netflix support. Netflix members...
Steve Watts
8

At today's Game Developers Conference keynote, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that the 3DS will feature Netflix support. Netflix members can play their movies and TV shows on the top screen when the service launches this summer.

Since movie information is stored on the Netflix servers, you could watch a movie on your 3DS, then finish it on your home Netflix-equipped device -- Wii, PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or otherwise. Iwata also announced that users will be able to watch 3D movie trailers like Green Lantern.

When the 3DS debuted, Nintendo mentioned the ability to watch 3D movies like How to Train Your Dragon, but we haven't heard much since. We have to wonder if this announcement means the 3DS could play streaming 3D movies from Netflix, if the movie giant ever adds that functionality.

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  • Shacknews legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
    reply
    March 2, 2011 10:10 AM

    Comment on GDC: Nintendo 3DS to feature Netflix support, by Steve Watts.

    • SporkyReeve legacy 10 years
      reply
      March 2, 2011 10:12 AM

      Summary: "At today's Game Developers Conference keynote, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that the 3DS will feature Netflix support. Netflix members can play their movies and TV shows on the top screen when the service launches this summer."

    • skeuri legacy 10 years
      reply
      March 2, 2011 10:34 AM

      Will this service be available to European users? Netflix normally doesn't stream outside the US.

      • Sir_Shaggy legacy 10 years
        reply
        March 2, 2011 10:48 AM

        Netflix is available in Canada.

      • Haxim legacy 10 years
        reply
        March 2, 2011 11:01 AM

        Probably only regions that Netflix currently supports.

    • daggot legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      March 2, 2011 10:45 AM

      That's pretty crazy. Although, a portable Netflix device is cool. Wonder if they'll add some of that 2D-to-3D tech like that being added to TVs.

    • David Craddock legacy 10 years mercury mega
      reply
      March 2, 2011 11:00 AM

      I'm glad Nintendo is poking its head out of its typical "We're Nintendo and do what we want while ignoring the rest of the world" shell and implementing services like Netflix. I think Nintendo understands that it needs to compete with mobile devices if it wants to make the 3DS as overwhelming a success as its previous handhelds, which, by comparison, had significantly less competition in the mobile market.

      • Serpico74 moderator legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        March 2, 2011 12:14 PM

        Netflix has been on the Wii for a while, this isn't really new or unexpected

        • David Craddock legacy 10 years mercury mega
          reply
          March 2, 2011 12:36 PM

          I agree, but they're usually slow to adopt. I mean, yeah, the Wii has Netflix, but that's one example of Nintendo keeping up with modern, non-gaming-related media trends.

          • MoreVespeneGas legacy 10 years
            reply
            March 2, 2011 12:41 PM

            They have offered other modern non-gaming features in their mobile products not sure what you are getting at here

      • skeuri legacy 10 years
        reply
        March 2, 2011 12:22 PM

        Now all they need to understand is that triple webcams and a mic just SCREAMS Skype!

      • MoreVespeneGas legacy 10 years
        reply
        March 2, 2011 12:39 PM

        I think it's a pointless addition for anyone that does own a netflix streaming device. I know I will never use netflix on a 3DS.

        I play Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games - not to play MP3's, browse the web, or even stream netflix.

        I'd much rather see them off digital distribution of their software (all of their software) than this kind of stuff.

        • MoreVespeneGas legacy 10 years
          reply
          March 2, 2011 12:39 PM

          off = offer

        • one random winner legacy 10 years
          reply
          March 2, 2011 12:41 PM

          Ideally yes, but in order for Nintendo to compete it has to start offering this kind of extra-gaming functionality. Now if only it was also a 4G device...

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