Previously adult Nintendo console owners in Europe, who enjoyed the digital side of Nintendo through the eShop were left a little disgruntled when Nintendo began to restrict access to content that was rated 18+.

This was due to German Laws which stated that access to 18+ rated content must be available only at night. This meant any gamer interested in viewing details, videos or downloading demos or buying full games had to do so during the awkward time window of 11pm to 3am. As Nintendo's European HQ, Nintendo of Europe is based in Germany along with the European servers for the eShop, this meant not only were German gamers effected but all Nintendo fans across the European continent.

But today Nintendo has sent a news message out on both Wii U and 3DS eShops stating the restrictions have been lifted.

Their statement reads:

"Dear Customer.

Nintendo has lifted the access restrictions to content rated 18+.
Adults can now browse and buy all games at any time of the day.

Following analysis of the Parental Controls system on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in cooperation with USK, the German Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body, it was deemed that Nintendo's Partental Control system is of very high quality and offers a remarkable level of protection for children. Nintendo's Parental Control system was found to have proved itself in practice.

Nintendo always encourages parents to make use of Parental Controls to control access to content they deem inappropriate for their children.

Nintendo eShop Team"

It would seem that Nintendo were being cautious in implementing the now old time restriction while they endevoured to gain proper approval from German authorities before allowing eShop content to become restricted by use of each consoles own built in Parental Control systems.

So there you have it. If you've been wanting to download the ZombiU Demo or full game, Assassin's Creed 3 (which just started an eShop sale, now available for just €29.99 or £29.99 in the UK for a limted time) or any other 18+ rated game but didn't have the time to wait untill after 11pm, now you can do it any time at your leisure.

No doubt this will be good news for Publishers and Indie Developers too, who may have been concerned about release their games (if rated 18+) on Nintendo's eShop in Europe.