Super Smash Bros. 3DS Update Adds These Features

The fight continues on Nintendo 3DS as Super Smash Bros. gets an update offering new functionality for the portable brawler. Don’t get too excited, though, as new characters and maps are not part of the equation.

Those of you planning on picking up a New 3DS on Friday have the most to look forward to, as today’s Smash Bros. update for the mascot-infused fighting game will feature Amiibo support. I know. Exciting, right?

According to the official announcement/a>, Amiibo support is only being added for the New 3DS XL. You’ll still have to update if you’re playing on an older model, but said update won’t really affect your experience in the collectable figurine department.

As for what, exactly, the functionality of Amiibos will be for the portable version of Smash, Nintendo has finally cleared matters up a bit. And in case you’re somehow in the dark about what an Amiibo is, it’s a Skylanders-esque figurine featuring characters from Nintendo games. It’s basically a little statue that can be scanned, holds data and unlocks certain features within various games.

“Users can tap their Amiibo figure to the touchscreen to transform them into figure players (FP) to battle, train, and level-up their FP,” reads the announcement. “FPs that were trained in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U can be used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.”

The announcement also goes on to explain that an Amiibo-scanning device compatible with regular 3DS consoles will hit the market sometime this year, at which point everyone should be able to enjoy the character swapping as one big, happy family.

Also included in today’s update is a new “Share mode,” which allows players to post photos, replay data and Mii Fighter data to an official server where they can be shared with users around the world. This new feature will also allow you to share photos and such with your friends directly, or more easily post pictures to Miiverse from within the game.

As is usually the case with 3DS updates –which are rare to begin with—you’ll need to grab this one from the eShop rather than directly from the game. Simply boot up your 3DS’ virtual storefront, find the update, then download. You’ll have to do this as of today if you ever want to play the game online again so, yeah, we recommend you get on that.

So now comes the Q&A: Are any of you readers planning to actually use this functionality? Has content sharing filled a big spot on your wish list for Smash Bros.? What about those Amiibos? Anyone planning on actually using them? Please let us know in the comments section below.