Something to watch with Wii U and New 3DS console sales.
It appears that a new GameStop policy introduced as of this quarter may force changes to Nintendo's sale policy for systems.
First announced during the chain's last quarterly results and reported by GiantBomb, the policy mandates that all console bundles be sold with physical copies of games instead of digital codes. Currently, the most prominent Sony and Microsoft console bundles are sold with included codes. Nintendo's current Wii U bundle includes a preinstalled Mario Kart 8 and Nintendo Land, while the previous bundle with Super Mario 3D World was initially a disc but changed to a preinstalled game.
It appears the policy was enacted after the Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer bundle was announced or terms negotiated, as it has a code inside whereas the FIFA 16 Xbox One bundle was changed to a disc for GameStop. If the policy continues for future New 3DS bundles they will either include a disc, a preinstalled copy of the game or be forced as a store exclusive, such as with Walmart's exclusivity on the Super Mario Maker bundle or Best Buy with the Splatoon system bundle.