Nintendo Switch Doesn't Have Miiverse or StreetPass
By Jasmine Henry 16 January 2017
Nintendo confirms that the Nintendo Switch will not feature Miiverse or StreetPass, though the upcoming console will still allow players to interact with their social media accounts.
When the Nintendo Switch was announced, many people commented on how it seemed to be like a hybrid between the Wii U and the 3DS. After all, it can be played on the go thanks to its portable ‘tablet’ section but it can also be played as a home video game console. As such, many gamers expected the Switch to feature Miiverse and StreetPass – two things that people love about the Wii U and the 3DS – and give them even more of a chance to interact with their fellow players.
Unfortunately it seems that the Nintendo Switch will have neither of these features when it launches in March. Speaking to GamesBeat during the Switch event in New York City, David Young, the assistant manager of public relations for Nintendo America, revealed that “I can answer that we’re not going to be using Miiverse for Nintendo Switch.”
StreetPass, meanwhile, won’t feature on the Nintendo Switch as Nintendo is trying to establish the fact that the device is a home console first rather than a portable system. It should also be noted that the Nintendo Switch battery life isn’t particularly huge, so refraining from including StreetPass functionality is probably a smart idea.
The Nintendo Switch will still let players get social, though, Young said. Instead of Miiverse and StreetPass, the Nintendo Switch will use existing social media platforms. It’s unclear exactly which social media platforms will be available (although Twitter and Facebook seem like a safe bet) and it’s unclear what sort of content players will be able to post via the console, but it’s positive to see that Nintendo is following the PS4 and Xbox One’s lead as they both let players post to their social media accounts too.
While many fans will no doubt be disappointed at the Switch’s lack of Miiverse and StreetPass, for Nintendo it makes perfect business sense. Even before the console was announced, Nintendo stressed the fact that the console won’t replace the Wii U or the 3DS and that it won’t be a successor to the two systems. This is further highlighted by the fact that the Nintendo Switch can’t play 3DS cartridges or Wii U discs, either. And granted, while 3DS sales are down and Wii U production is ending, Nintendo won’t want to give gamers even more of a reason to avoid its older consoles altogether.
The Nintendo Switch will be available from March 3.
