Nintendo eShop
The Nintendo eShop (ニンテンドーeショップ, Nintendo eShop) is Nintendo's proprietary digital storefront, serving as a successor to both the Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop. Beginning with the Nintendo 3DS and continuing onto the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, players can go onto the eShop with an internet connection and download digital titles, and sometimes content exclusive to the eShop (such as download-only titles, and non-video game media like animations). Players could also buy older games from Nintendo's previous consoles on the Wii U and 3DS's Shops. On February 15th, 2022, Nintendo announced making purchases in the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops would be discontinued on March 27th, 2023, credit cards funds being discontinued on May 23rd, 2022, and adding Nintendo eShop Cards funds being discontinued on August 29th, 2022. Accessing these shops today will result in an empty home page with none of the standard functions working properly without jailbreaking the console, with the sole exception of the re-download page.
In the Super Smash Bros. seriesEdit
Super Smash Bros. 4Edit
Being on the eShop's introductory consoles, both versions of Super Smash Bros. 4 were available to download for their respective consoles, the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. There was also a demo for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS available to download for free, featuring access to Mario, Link, Pikachu, Villager, and Mega Man and a choice between regular and Ω Battlefield, with the former having items turned on and the latter having items turned off. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U lacked a downloadable demo.
The eShop was also connected to the downloadable content for the game; the 3DS version had a built-in eShop (likely due to the 3DS's modest processing power), while the Wii U accessed the eShop directly. In either version, the player could use the eShop to download characters, stages, or Mii Fighter costumes. The 3DS and Wii U eShop officially shut down on March 27th, 2023, meaning it is no longer officially possible to digitally purchase Super Smash Bros. 4 or any of its DLC, although already purchased items prior to discontinuation can still be redownloaded.
Super Smash Bros. UltimateEdit
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is also available for download on the Nintendo Switch. Two versions of the downloadable game exist; one that pays for the base game, and one that pays for the game and the Fighters Pass, with the price changing accordingly. Both Fighters Pass Vol. 1 & 2 are available for separate purchase, as is each individual challenger pack and each individual downloadable Mii fighter costume. Ultimate also has an eShop menu within it (that accesses the eShop directly, much like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U) where players can purchase the downloadable content for the game (such as the aforementioned Fighters Pass).
Players also can earn Gold Points for Nintendo's My Nintendo service by registering games with their My Nintendo account; up until January 31st, 2019, if this process was followed with Ultimate, players would also receive a code to download Piranha Plant for free upon its release. Shortly after the release of Piranha Plant, it was available for purchase on the eShop for those who did not get the Gold Points. Players can also spend gold points on any digital content for a discount at checkout, with one Gold Point being equivalent to one U.S. cent. For example, most Mii costumes are priced at 75 cents. If the buyer has 75 Gold Points or more and uses them, they could effectively get that costume for free.