Nintendo brings Miiverse, Nintendo Network ID to 3DS in December

Today, Nintendo announced that it will release a system update next month that will make its 3DS system compatible with its Nintendo Network ID system. Nintendo Network, introduced alongside the Wii U, is Nintendo's first account-based online service. The update will allow players who have both systems to co-register them and combine their account balances for credit on the eShop download store for both systems. "If you register the same Nintendo Network ID on both your 3DS and Wii U, you can purchase software on either system using the same balance," said Nintendo's Bill Trinen, as part of today's Nintendo Direct livestream presentation. "After the system update is distributed, we'll ask you to create a Nintendo Network ID for free demos," Trinen continued. If you wish to continue downloading paid software without an ID, you can do so, he added. "Moving forward... eventually more of our services" will use the Nintendo Network ID, Trinen said. Alongside this update, Nintendo will launch its Miiverse community application on the 3DS. This Facebook-style social service allows users to post illustrations and comments in communities for every game in the Wii U's library. Functionality will be much the same on 3DS, as revealed in this image: This announcement comes in the wake of the shuttering of the 3DS' prior drawing app, Swapnote, over concerns around inappropriate content. Miiverse on the Wii U is moderated by Nintendo. What was missing from the announcement is info on whether users will be able to recover their downloaded games from their account if their 3DS is lost or broken -- which is possible via Nintendo Network ID on Wii U but currently not possible with the Network ID-free 3DS. It is also unclear if the system's friend code-based friending functionality will be affected by this Network ID update (Wii U friends lists are managed via Nintendo Network ID.) The update is due next month, at which point we'll know more.