Nintendo goes premium, New Super Mario Bros. 2 will have post-launch DLC

Nintendo is finally catching up with the times, for better or worse, as the company announces plans to move into the realm of premium DLC.

Today's big Nintendo announcement was that the new 3DS XL will be launched the same day as New Super Mario Bros. 2. It's like the handheld is being launched all over again, hooray! More alarming news might have slipped under your radar, however. Nintendo also confirmed that they will offer paid DLC for New Super Mario Bros. 2. After all, it's all about the gold, am I right?

Nintendo president Iwata said in an interview earlier this year that DLC, "might be good for short-term profit, but it will not serve our mid-term and long-term business developments." He continued, however, with, "If third-party developers would like to adopt this form of micro-transaction, and if this kind of business relationship between the developers and consumers is commonly accepted in Japan, we have no intention to decline it."

The shift in philosophy isn't necessarily surprising, considering the current market for such offerings. As a Nintendo fan though, it's still a bit painful. I'd always hoped they'd hold out -- hold the high ground, if you will. Times are a changing, that's for sure.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 will offer Gold Rush levels for download, but no pricing structure was specifically detailed. The game will release August 19 in North America.