It is also a multitasking application, which means it is easily accessible even when a game is already running in the background through the system software.

Downloads can be started immediately, or they can be queued up and be pushed to the console while it is not in use or when the eShop application is not running.

[7] A December 2011 update enabled a similar feature allowing users to transfer their purchases between 3DS systems.

When applications were downloaded on the 3DS and Wii U they took up space on the system in Nintendo's form of storage called blocks.

On the switch, however, this storage type also used on consoles like the Wii was replaced with the mostly universal Megabyte and Gigabyte memory format.

If notifications are activated, a pop-up message will appear in the top right corner of the screen to notify the user that a download is finished.

The Nintendo eShop supported user reviews of games, applications, and other media on the Wii U and 3DS.

On September 13, 2012, during a Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation, Satoru Iwata introduced a new service called Deluxe Digital Promotion (North America)/Nintendo Network Premium (Europe, Australia, and Japan).

[10] A limited variant of the Nintendo eShop on Wii U was also discontinued at the same day for said Latin American and Caribbean markets.

[9] As of that date, the ability to download, redownload, and update any software became unavailable, and games using the eShop were also affected.

The first was New Super Mario Bros. 2, launched on the Nintendo 3DS eShop alongside its retail release in August 2012.

3D Classics is a series of NES/Famicom, Arcade, Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, and SG-1000 games remade with added 3D visuals and updated features, although the overall graphics retain their original art style and appearance.

Add-on software can be added to both downloadable and physical games, and be purchased either individually or via in-game stores.

These system updates gave the ability to patch downloadable and retail releases, through both the Nintendo eShop and HOME Menu.

These patches have the main purpose of fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs and improving usability or performance.

Virtual Console games on the Wii U can be suspended and users can also create save states anytime.

Virtual Console games on the Nintendo 3DS can be suspended and users can also create save states anytime.

Special features in this interpretation of the Virtual Console allowed players to create Restore Points, temporarily saving the game state for use later, and the optional ability to view games in their original resolution accompanied with special borders or templates.

Prior to the Wii Shop Channel's closure, there were over 450 downloadable games available in North America as of October 2012[update].

Similar to using Nintendo DS software, DSiWare can be optionally viewed in its original resolution and Home Menu functionality, SpotPass, StreetPass, Auto Brightness (New Nintendo 3DS only) and 3D Functionality is disabled whilst DSiWare software is being played.

[28][needs update] DSiWare games and software on the Nintendo eShop are largely priced near-identically as on the original DSi Shop.

Online functionality has been defunct in DSiWare games due to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service ceasing operations as of May 20, 2014.

It featured video previews and footage of upcoming and recently released Nintendo 3DS retail and downloadable games.

NCC argued this violated the EU's Consumer Rights Directive 2011 as all pre-orders must be able to be refunded.

[40] The German Federation of Consumer Organisation (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e. V., or VBEV) took the lead on the lawsuit by December 2018 as Nintendo's European headquarters were located in Großostheim.

[40] The Regional Court of Frankfurt ruled in December 2019 for Nintendo, but both the NCC and VBEV appealed the decision.

[42] Despite this change, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt reversed the lower court's decision and ruled against Nintendo in December 2021, stating that its policy still violated the EU consumer's directive, as "the prerequisites for the right of revocation were not met, as the download made available after the pre-order did not yet contain any usable game.