User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Hunter Frontier G 3 Discussion/@comment-24148207-20131113073853/@comment-11685710-20131113081901

Since the game itself is for free (even on the eShop), I'd say it downloads new updates via Spotpass on Wii U (if you activate that, everything will quietly update while the console's in Standby) or through the PSN (I don't know if the PS3 downloads automatically...never played online with mine as long as I didn't need a FW update).

The only reason, why you pay for the boxed versions is because they contain a certain time until the monthly fee thingy starts (and some DLC goodies iirc, but I guess someone like Pike can answer you on that better).