Topic: Why are Nintendo holding back basic features of the Nintendo Switch?

@DannyBoi
I don't buy most of that.

An official NSO message app, sure. I can see the need for that. The smartphone app isn't great, and I'm not a big phone person to begin with. So I get that one. (Just integrate a messenger into the existing NSO apps, I say.)

But a browser, especially for the situation you cite? If I'm playing a game and want to look up a tough part, I prefer doing it on a separate device so that I can play AND view the help at the same time. Unless the browser is like the store or eShop, you'd have to quit out of your game, open the browser, find your stuff, quit the browser, then relaunch your game. No thanks. I'll just use my computer or my phone.

Anyway, this discussion has cropped up every couple months for the last couple years since launch. The Switch is obviously doing fine without all of it, and I would even argue it's doing fine BECAUSE it doesn't have all of it. I like to imagine it keeps Nintendo focused more on scoring us awesome games and gaming partnerships rather than wooing third-party media apps. In reality I know it's possible to walk and chew gum at the same time, but I'm sure it does allow them a bit more focus.

@rallydefault Yeah, I agree with the browser being intergrated into the OS. That way you wouldn't have to keep closing the game. And(if and when) a browser is added, it will be most likely intergrated into the OS.

@DannyBoi The Switch already HAS a web browser. It's limited, though, in websites you can visit so it can't be used for piracy.

Also you can backup saves to the cloud. You can't to an SD card because of
1. Cheating
2. Piracy (see Twilight hack on the Wii)

Adding folders or themes would slow down the OS (like it did on the 3DS).

Twitch / Netflix is up to Twitch / Netflix to make an app for the Switch (like Youtube did) and release it in the eShop.

Nintendo does what they want at their own pace sadly.

I don’t think the absence of these features is preventing my game system from playing games. Coming from the Xbox Live ecosystem, I certainly don’t miss getting notifications of messages all the time.

I quite appreciate the lack of clutter on my Switch tbh. Of all the suggested features I could maybe see the use in folders...but only to hide away the games that I rarely play. This is a games console, not a computer, so I expect to spend hours upon hours on a single piece of software and as little time as possible on the OS.

I don't care at all about the browser because i have a phone for that, but i really want themes, and a good way to communicate with our friends

I’m not even really a fan of the gimmick for the Switch, I think Nintendo would do much better without a gimmick and by competing on power. They have the most valuable IPs, all they need to do is implement proper online, strong hardware and continue their pace of title’s and they’d be doing incredible.