Soapbox: Switch Really Needs Third-Party Profile Icons - Here Are Our Top Picks

My choice is DDR Arrow icon.

I’d love it a lot! I would absolutely love if they were able to get the rights to have some Rare characters as Switch avatars, but I am pretty content with the one I have on there, being a Donkey Kong Country render I got on NSO.

I don’t know, but there’s something about avatar and profile pictures that are so fun. It’s probably because it tells a lot about your personality and interests in just a single picture, and with changing profile pictures on sites like these, the possibilities are endless, but sometimes I get so lazy with changing mine lol.

Would be very cool, but as the poll says "I'm not too fussed."

I tend to constantly rotate my icons in and out anyway.

I like the idea of using the characters and demons of Shin Megami Tensei as an icon.

Cut to everyone using Mara.

Yeah, was hoping you'd unlock exclusive ones with game purchases. Would be a cool way to show off characters from those lesser known games (Penguin Wars anyone?) too.

A little off topic but since you posted it in the pic I hope we get a 'Spyro the Dragon 4' or another collection of the older 'Spyro' video games. There have been rumors about a 'Spyro 4' being in development since the success of the 'Reignited' trilogy but I have seen some recent reports saying it might not happpen now 'cause the latest 'Crash Bandicoot' game didn't sell as well as they were hoping it would and I think that is unfair 'cause there are a lot of 'Spyro' fans that don't buy 'Crash Bandicoot' games and it would be like Nintendo saying they weren't going to make another 'Metroid' or 'Animal Crossing' game 'cause one of the 'Kirby' games wasn't successful. Spyro deserves a fourth game but there seems to be a few popular franchises like Spyro the Dragon, Donkey Kong, Rayman, Banjo Kazooie and Wario Land/ World that have mostly been left in limbo at the moment despite many fans wanting new games.

It is a sad time for us fans of 2D and 3D Platform games.

I don't see why we can't have third-party icons. I mean, Sony started doing this since the PS3 days...

Anyways, I'd like to see more indie series/games get profile icons, including (but not limited to)...

Majin Shoujo/The Legend of Dark Witch
Umihara Kawase
Shovel Knight
Touhou Project
Guacamelee!
Type-Moon

Chrono would be sweet!

I barely play any third party games so I couldn’t care less

@Anti-Matter Wait, actually... I would love that!

I think a system where developers can choose to bundle icon options in with their games might be the best call, as it would allow even the most niche of indies to get icons should the developer or publisher choose to include them.

Alternatively, integrating icons into a Nintendo Badge Arcade successor on the Switch 2 would be neat

How about a new Mario 3d platform game from Nintendo studios.
If and when we get the next one after the amazing Mario Odyssey it will be about 8 years since or near to it.

I mean even if they had chucked out Mario Galaxy 2 remake for this Christmas, it would have been a little something.

I'd prefer focusing on missing 1st party icons first. Like if they finished off the missing courses for MK8 Deluxe (BCP waves 3-6), I was looking forward to having a Wii Daisy Circuit icon.

I'm pretty sure I'd pay real money for a Goemon profile icon.

No Shovel Knight icon on the indie section? Blasphemous!

We do have Square Enix icons in Mallow and Geno, though I wish they also had a 2D Culex one so I could pretend it's a Final Fantasy character.

I would rather not but wouldn’t be mad since I know tons of people do want them

@Anti-Matter I've always wondered why there isn't a DDR game on Switch that uses two Joy-Con leg straps. Whenever I wanna play Mario DDR I gotta hook up my GameCube and pull the mat out, but it would be so much more simple if I could use motion controls instead of a mat.

The switch has sold 140 million with just white or dark theme. Kind of hard to entertain any ideas about something extra to the UI at this point

My heart jumped at seeing FFX profile icons. I would absolutely have to have those.

You should be allowed to use any spirit from Smash Ultimate

"The more the merrier!"

I also rotate my profile icons in my collection. I think you can hold 96 customs.

I really enjoy how over on Pushquare all the articles are about the controversy surrounding whatever dumpster fire AAA game while Nintendolife is talking about wholesome things like our favourite icons

Should just let us upload our own. You can on Xbox so why not, spring for the moderation.

Solid choices. Love the use of the SA2 art. Would love to see a port. Also some Rare characters would be great too. And Bomberman Hero. And Snowboard Kids. And Chibi Robo.

I'd love some Monster Hunter icons.

The idea to use Spirit's from Smash is nice, would have reduced the sting of going from trophies/3d models + historical blurbs to spirits/jpegs.
Another option that would be cool is if, when you claimed the Nintendo points for a physical game, you also got a few profile pictures.
I'd also like it if seeing the credits in a game gave you a few profile pictures featuring characters from that game...it would be a nice alternative achievement-lite system.
I like all of the option showcased in the article, additions I'd like to make are characters from Snowboard Kids and Darkstalkers.

All the Smash ones surely should be the starting point.

Where are Shovel Knight icons!!?!??

Bring on the Shantae icons!

Also, Tifa, Plague Knight, MegaMan.EXE, Chun-Li, Hollow Knight characters, and Ryu Hayabusa.

I have never changed mine from the start.
Metroid all the way baby.
Pick n stick.

@IceClimbersMain
Konami still making DDR games but only for Arcade and PC + you must subscribe before playing as it needs online connection to play.

Phoenix Wright seems like a no-brainer.

I'd love it, I'd use either Amy or Shanoa if that was an option. Even some Guilty Gear ones would be nice if that ever happened. But Smash Ultimate icons should be a no-brainer because I'd be using Wolf.

I could see them staying away from M-rated games, as that teases kids who are like "who's that?" But certainly games with Nintendo console origins make a lot of sense, like Mega Man, Shantae, or Final Fantasy 1-6.

@Uncle_Franklin I think starting with Smash characters makes a lot of sense. In fact, why aren't there Smash icon sets (to my knowledge) which include some of the many backgrounds?

@ScalenePowers Using Smash spirits would make me actually want to collect them. I've thought about how the console home screen and game achievements could be integrated better, somewhat akin to the Street Pass games.

More options is always good. I'll still keep Yoshi icons 99% of the time though personally, maybe changing it sometimes for special occasions.

God I hope they bring back themes and background music for the next system.

I miss those little things from the Wii/WiiU/3ds era

@Anti-Matter of all the things in the gaming universe and that's what you'd choose? Yet here were you can you don't? 😂 Clearly it's your choice and support freedom of choice,but I think you might be talking porkies..

@Multi

fyi he is using his own custom artwork here which obv will never be available as a switch avatar, first party or not. ✌️

@Anti-Matter

I never thought of the arrow icons being the "characters" in ddr 😊 very cute, I like the idea.

@Anti-Matter A peak Anti-matter comment

At this stage of the Switch’s lifespan, who really gives a s*** about third party icons…

Honestly they've still barely scratched the surface when it comes to their own IPs to start worrying about Third-Party ones. Sonic would probably be the first to happen if any, maybe if they do something like drop the Sonic Advance games for the GBA app around the time Sonic x Shadow releases.

It's a wonder we even have Pokemon.

NSO icons have been a fun, little extra feature, so I wouldn't mind third party ones at all. Don't see what's the holdup. I tend to rotate between my icons every two days so they get more of a chance in my spotlight. Plus, they make good Nintendolife avatars!

This would be really great to see. I'd love to have Crash, Spyro, and Cuphead in particular. And my best friend is obsessed with Tomb Raider (she's somehow put over 130 hours into the remastered trilogy), so she'd flip for a Lara one.

At the very least, it would be great to have one for all the Smash Ultimate fighters. Would love to rep my boy Pac-Man. This might be a little too ambitious, but can you imagine if we got a profile icon for every Smash Ultimate Spirit? Then we'd have stuff like Rayman, Shovel Knight, Bomberman, Resident Evil, etc. I proposed this idea once before, and I still think it would be sick.

I hope we get a remaster of Kid Icarus Uprising on Switch so we can get a Hades icon. He's one of my favorite characters from anything ever.

Would love to have a icon of Asuka from Senran Kagura.