Despite the Nintendo Switch being a relatively solid video game system, the home console-handheld hybrid still features the Japanese gaming giant’s archaic, cumbersome Friend Code system.
Just hours before the Switch officially hit store shelves however, Nintendo revealed that it has plans to provide players with other ways to connect with one another in the near future.
In a statement given to Polygon, Nintendo said it has plans to allow friends to add each other through social networks, as well as via Nintendo Network IDs — a process that’s similar to Microsoft’s Gamertags or Sony’s PlayStation Network names. Players will be able to add people they’ve recently played with to their friends list, as well as those that share the same network.
Furthermore, Nintendo says that some titles will feature their own in-game friend interface, though the company hasn’t explained exactly how this will work.
Switch owners can currently add friends from Nintendo mobile games they’ve previously played like Miitomo and Super Mario Run. It’s still unclear, however, if the console will eventually support voice chat.
So while Friend Codes are still around, Nintendo Switch owners at least have a few other options when it comes to adding their friends to the system.
Source: Polygon
