DLC Comes to 3DS In Japan With Downloadable Content For Three Games

Downloadable Content Fire Emblem: Awakening artwork for Roy (Japan)

Downloadable Content is officially headed to the Nintendo 3DS through multiple titles… although so far this is only in Japan. “DLC” (as it’s popularly called, for short) is the ability to download additional new content that adds onto your game (new characters, items, skins/looks for your character, missions, etc.). DLC is popular for virtually all videogames these days, although almost completely absent on Nintendo’s machines.

Virtually every modern game these days has paid downloadable content (that you must buy) available that continues to drip out after a game has been released for Xbox 360, PS3, PC, PS Vita, PSP… even the original Xbox had it. Wii has a few games with DLC, but not many. And up to this point Nintendo has almost entirely avoided the idea of having to pay for post-release content in a videogame.

That day has now ended… at least in Japan. Already Nintendo has released an all-new downloadable character for their Strategy RPG “Fire Emblem: Awakening” (the latest game in Nintendo’s long-running Fire Emblem series), and that characters was the uber-popular Marth; made famous in the Western world via his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee for GameCube and Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii.

Leaf is DLC for Japanese gamers in Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)

Now Japanese gamers will be getting two additional beloved characters that they can download, “Roy” (made famous in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but absent in Brawl; replaced by Ike) and Leaf. The latter isn’t known to Westerners, and comes from Seisen no Keifu/Thracia 776… whatever that is. Roy will cost ¥250 and Leaf costs ¥350. Both, as well as a new downloadable scenario, will hit Japan on February 26th.

Here is a look at Fire Emblem: Awakening on video.

As for Fire Emblem: Awakening itself, so far the game has not receieved a Western release date, but it’s very likely that it will be announced at E3, as Nintendo typically brings them over. And new 3DS games are something Nintendo cannot deny, even announcing the Pokemon strategy RPG for Western release (a title originally called Pokemon vs Nabanuga’s Ambition, as it features characters Westerners are not familiar with. Even so, they simply retitled it Pokemon Conquest and will be releasing it anyway!). So that bodes well that we’ll see Fire Emblem: Awakening eventually.

And Nintendo isn’t the only one getting in on the DLC act with 3DS games, as Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy (a very interesting upcoming music-based rhythm game for 3DS that plays like Elite Beat Agents [DS] and has you tapping along to tons of classic Final Fantasy tunes in order to defeat enemies!) will be getting new downloadable songs! In Japan, these include Final Fantasy VII’s Those Who Fight Further (battle stage), Final Fantasy X’s Normal Battle (battle stage), Final Fantasy XI’s Battle Theme (battle stage) and Final Fantasy XIII’s March of the Dreadnoughts (field stage). They’ll be released in Japan on April 22nd.

Japanese gamers are getting this Final Fantasy VII DLC for Theaterhythm: Final Fantasy for 3DS!

Last but not least, Monster Hunter 3G (also not announced for American release… yet) will be getting two new downloadable quests that are already out now in Japan.

It’s only a matter of time before we start seeing DLC coming to our 3DS games. Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think Nintendo will ever end up abusing it like a lot of other developers do?

Here’s a look at the amazing Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy for 3DS.