3DS Gets Free Netflix Starting Today

Slowly but surely, the pieces seem to be coming together for Nintendo’s much maligned 3DS handheld. The system, which launched in late March, was criticized for its high pricepoint, poor battery life, for launching without most of its functionality enabled, and for having a dearth of good content. Well, at least the last two of those four problems are now being addressed. Even as the 3DS continues to get a stream of good games, starting of course with the excellent Ocarina of Time 3D, and as its internet functionality grows by the day, thanks to the eShop, Nintendo has now announced that the next step towards making the 3DS a truly all purpose multimedia device is being realized today.

For all North American users, Thursday’s update will see a free Netflix app being made available on the eShop. The app can be downloaded for free, and can be used to stream all Netflix content, as long as you have a Netflix streaming plan. You will only be able to stream content in 2D- in spite of early rumors, there is no provision to stream anything in 3D yet.

It sounds like a good move. Finally, 3DS users can watch The Big Bang Theory on the toilet on their 3DS’s.