Here’s how the 3DS StreetPass enhancement will work

29,000 Nintendo Zone locations are rolling out

In just a few weeks, everyone with a 3DS will be able to reap the benefits of the enhanced StreetPass program, which utilizes Nintendo Zone locations to allow your portable to “relay” StreetPasses. What this basically means is that you can beam your StreetPass to a hub location, and if anyone happens to walk by it, they’ll acquire it — rather than forcing you to be in the same location at the same time.

Nintendo notes that over “29,000” locations across North America will have this functionality, including Best Buy, Simon Malls, Future Shop, Starbucks, McDonalds, Barnes & Noble, and other locations that have AT&T Wi-fi Hotspots. This update should be incredibly useful for those who live in more rural areas and can’t find any StreetPass buddies — especially given the new Plaza games that were released recently.