As many Nintendo fans know, the online experience for officialNintendowebsites haven’t been as polished of an experience as it could have been.Nintendoappears to have listened to feedback, or was otherwise forced to respond, as it’s now confirmed that the official Nintendo Shop website has been relaunched with a completely remade design. Not only has the storefront been overhauled, but it has also been combined with the My Nintendo community loyalty program. But the biggest change for consumers may be free shipping for orders over $50.
For all intents and purposes, the Nintendo Store remains true to its focus as a storefront. The overhauled frontpage for the store features links to hubs focusing on games, Nintendo hardware, merchandise, exclusive offerings, sales and discounts, and even Nintendo characters. There are also now hubs forMy Nintendo Rewards, which Nintendo users earn through purchases and playing games, as well as Nintendo Switch Online.
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Many of Nintendo’s most popular current products are also advertised on the front page of the store, too.Pokemon Legends: Arceusis the top game listed, withBig Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain, and bothPokemon Shining PearlandPokemon Brilliant Diamondafter it. Nintendo Switch accessories are also featured prominently, with figures like the Zelda & Loftwing amiibo included. Other accessories like a Nintendo-branded microSDXC card, an AC adapter, and the LVL40 wired gaming headset are advertised, too.
As for which ofNintendo’s charactersit features on the front page, it’s the four franchises one might expect given their current popularity on the Nintendo Switch. Mario is listed first, followed byThe Legend of Zelda’s Link and Zelda. Next isAnimal Crossing’s Isabelle and Nook, due to the incredible popularity ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsand its expansionHappy Home Paradise. The fourth character featured is Pikachu, forPokemon.
A large banner at the top of the front page confirms that the store will offer free shipping for orders over $50. No notable restrictions apply, though Nintendo does say the offer is subject to change at any time. Nintendo will even allow for a promotional code to be used alongside free shipping, though it’s hard to imagineNintendo offering many discounts.
What’s important is that the onlineNintendo Storeis now a much more consumer-friendly experience, offering up an alternative source for purchasing Nintendo-related products. Free shipping may even make the website an attractive choice compared to other storefronts. Just don’t expect it to mean that the storefront is stocked up any more than it was before – theNintendostore is still missing many popular items.
