In preparation for the worldwide launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 next week, Nintendo has taken the overly complicated ‘Switch Online’ app you’d forgotten about and turned it into something useful. It’s now the ‘Nintendo Switch App’ (never change, Nintendo), supports the Switch 2, and adds some pretty handy features to the mix.
That’s if you could get it to work, of course. Available today (Android/iOS), we had no issues installing the app on our Android smartphone from the Play Store, but experienced some hassle attempting to link our Nintendo account within the app. This issue doesn’t appear to be widespread, however, and will hopefully be fixed soon.
Making the Switch
While Nintendo makes a point of not leaving out original Switch owners in this rebrand, the best new feature will require a Switch 2 to take advantage of. Rather than fumble around with SD cards to extract your saved screenshots and videos, Nintendo has finally embraced the internet and makes your 100 most recent captures available on the app for up to 30 days before it’s sent to the shadow realm.
From any other developer, this wouldn’t exactly be classified as earth-shattering news. Both PlayStation and Xbox have offered something similar for years now. But Nintendo is different. Its aversion to basic features long taken for granted has held the company back in certain areas — a sentiment it hopes to change with the new console.
Read More: Here are the Nintendo Switch 2 games you can play on launch day
On a more personal note, the app allows users to see their status, the game they’re playing, and personalised notifications when a friend comes online. This feature, like the cloud storage for captures, doesn’t require a Switch Online subscription. That’s a big shift from Nintendo’s previous stance on online features.
You’ll also get to use the app’s game-specific services, such as Zelda Notes, SplatNet 3, and NookLink, to get some exclusive features with the app in hand. That means shrine navigation and daily bonus features in The Legend of Zelda, battle history for your Splatoon 3 battles, and a slew of features for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
