Nintendo considering free-to-play, subscription-based games for eShop

Nintendo will look into utilizing some familiar digital business models for its Wii U and 3DS hardware, CEO Satoru Iwata has told investors.

Shacknews reports the company head explained, during a Q&A with investors, the possibility of including free-to-play titles and games with monthly subscription fees on the eShop.

"We might have many other types of business models in addition to packaged software,” Iwata said. For example, we might see more games that are similar to free-to-play games, games that cost much less or games that require a monthly subscription fee."

"Nintendo 3DS and Wii U have flexible systems to handle such trends, so it is now a question of putting these ideas into action."

Iwata concluded that no matter what avenues Nintendo decides to pursue, the firm will provide some new form of digital offerings beyond downloadable versions of retail releases.

"I can definitely say that Nintendo will make new offers that go well beyond simply replacing packaged software with digital software."