Nintendo To Avoid Releasing DLC For Every Game, Says Iwata

As reported in September, Nintendo have seen great success with the sales of downloadable content for Fire Emblem: Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS. Accumulated Fire Emblem DLC sales (as of September) brought in revenue of about 380 million yen (about $4.8 million) for Nintendo in Japan alone.

With profits like those to be had from add-on content, it isn’t surprising that Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, was asked about the company’s stance on DLC and what kind of role it will play in terms of profits over the next year and beyond at a recent investor Q&A.

“As we have already seen such results as the ones yielded by the Fire Emblem title, we will see more downloadable content and add-on content from now on,” Iwata said. “However, we do not intend to make downloadable or add-on content available for every type of game. We would like to supply consumers with only add-on or downloadable content which they are happy to pay for as compensation for creative work.”

Iwata goes on to confirm that, for example, Nintendo will not be releasing paid DLC for the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Leaf on Nintendo 3DS, as they want to avoid a situation where the game turns into one that you enjoy more “by the power of money”. However, he pointed out, Nintendo are releasing downloadable content for New Super Mario Bros. 2, a game where they feel it is more appropriate to do so, and are seeing a good response from consumers.

“In short, we would like to find the type of add-on content consumers will find enjoyable in each game,” Iwata concluded. “We intend to basically create add-on content with which we will be able to make long-term relationships with our consumers.”