Pikmin 3 GameStop preorders get game a day early

Gamers in North America who preorder the digital version of Pikmin 3 during a special GameStop/EB Games event later this month can download the full version on August 3--one day before the game launches to the public--Nintendo has announced.

In a new video (below), Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime announced that the special event will take place on July 20 and July 21 at more than 250 GameStop and EB Games stores in the United States and Canada where Pikmin 3 will be playable.

Those who reserve a digital copy of Pikmin 3 on either of those days will be able to download the game from the Wii U eShop a full 24 hours before the game is publicly available.

It is not clear if prior preorders are eligible for the promotion or if such an offer will be made available to European gamers. A GameStop representative was not immediately available to comment.

A full list of participating US and Canada GameStop locations for the Pikmin 3 promotion is available at the company's website.