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DSi Downloads Non-Transferable
In typical Nintendo fashion, the portable gaming powerhouse seems to have a dozen iterations of its flagship handheld in the pipeline at all times. The Nintendo DSi hit retail in April 2009, with the uber-sized DSi XL releasing exactly a year later. Forgoing a breather, Nintendo announced the 3DS last week, days before the XL was officially available for purchase.
If the release frequency and price point didn’t already act as a barrier to entry, perhaps the thought of losing downloaded material will. Nintendo confirmed with Gamespot today that titles purchased on the DSi are tethered to the specific handheld and can’t be downloaded again.
“No, the games and applications are specific to each system, not each user,” a spokesperson told GameSpot
If you plan on upgrading your DSi for the larger DSi XL, expect to say farewell to your downloads. Anything previously purchased will have to be done so again.
Gamespot is quick to point out that both Sony and Microsoft approach digital downloads differently. PSP and PS3 content can be redownloaded from the PlayStation Network if needed, as can items from the Xbox Live Marketplace. There are obviously check and balances in both systems, but the framework is flexible enough that the user experience comes first.
If you were one of the early adopters who regularly purchases DSi content and plan on upgrading to a DSi XL, does this information sway your decision?
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