Nintendo says it plans to bring Netflix streaming movies to its 3DS handheld this summer, as well as the option for 3DS owners to access thousands of hotspots via a software update in May.
The company announced its plans for 3DS Netflix support and a wireless hotspot partnership with AT&T during its keynote at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this morning. Company CEO Satoru Iwata teased a new 3D version of Super Mario, too.
We’ll have to wait for E3 for more on the Mario game, but about a 3DS version of Netflix, we understand you’ll be able to start watching a movie on the Wii, say, and if you have to run, pick up where you left off on the 3DS (or, alternatively, vice versa). The app itself should function essentially like other mobile versions of Netflix on the iPhone and Android platforms.
What the latter two devices won’t do, of course, is play back 3D video. I have no idea if (well, when) Netflix plans to offer streaming 3D video, but Nintendo says it’s working with Hollywood studios to create 3D trailers for the 3DS, and singled out one for upcoming summer flick Green Lantern (incidentally directed by Martin Campbell, who handled Casino Royale, meaning it actually might not suck).
About the WiFi partnership: It’s with AT&T, and reportedly extends to upwards of 10,000 wireless hotspots. Not bad, and a coup for AT&T.
Nintendo also mentioned using the 3DS to record 3D movies. We already knew it could snap 3D pictures (it has two cameras, allowing it to gauge depth like Microsoft’s Kinect). But 3D video? Now that’s kind of cool–or it will be if you’re into the whole DIY auto-stereoscopic thing.
Would you watch movies on a 3DS? 3D movies? Or okay, let me ask the real question: Would your kids? You know, who already probably think having a totable glasses-free 3D movie player’s the coolest thing since Pokemon?
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