Nintendo Letter Box News
February2021
News We Might Now Know Why Swapnote For 3DS Got "Remastered" Last December
Was this update tied to an exploit?
In December last year, Nintendo released a remaster update for its out-of-date 3DS messaging app Swapnote. It had a lot of fans wondering what was really going on at the time, as it didn't seem like much of a remaster at all. The
December2020
News Nintendo Releases 'Swapnote Remastered' Update, Despite Killing The App Seven Years Ago
Are you OK, Nintendo?
Remember Swapnote, the Nintendo 3DS app that you can't really use any more? Well, Nintendo's released an update for it because Nintendo. That's right, Swapnote – or Nintendo Letter Box as it was known in PAL regions – has been given the remaster treatment seven years after the company disabled its primary feature. Nintendo...
November2013
News Nintendo Disables Swapnote's SpotPass Service Due to Online Safety Concerns
Service was "actively misused"
The SpotPass service that allows the sending and receiving of drawings and photographs in Swapnote (Nintendo Letter Box in Europe) has been indefinitely disabled. The online service had been used to distribute "offensive material" to minors, Nintendo said. The software - downloadable from the 3DS eShop - is designed...
April2013
News Nintendo Letter Box Update Now Live In Europe
Take note
Last week, we reported that North American 3DS owners could download an update for the Swapnote application which added a flood of cool new features. The European version of the app — known as Nintendo Letter Box — wasn't so lucky, however. Thankfully, Europe has now caught up with the US and if you're based in The Old World and you...
Nintendo Download 4th April 2013 (Europe)
A puzzling chick, chaotic aliens, Mega action and more
Now that the long Holiday weekend is over the video game world's wheels start spinning once again, starting today with Nintendo of Europe's weekly download update details. It's a busy week with every download store having some new content on offer, so let's get started. Wii U eShop: Toki Tori...
July2012
News Letter Box Update Adds Coloured Ink
At last
Popular message-swapper Nintendo Letter Box got an update today that lets you write and draw with coloured ink. European 3DS owners can simply scan the QR code below to go straight to the update, which adds five coloured inks to the free application: red, blue, green, purple and orange. Black remains an option too. To scan the QR code...
June2012
Feature One Year of the 3DS eShop
Happy birthday!
You might not have noticed with a little thing called E3 going on, but last week the Nintendo 3DS eShop turned one year old. Though the service started slowly, not even making it to the system's launch, it has morphed over the course of the last 12 months to become the decent digital portal that DSiWare and WiiWare should always have...
March2012
Feature The Evolving Role of Swapnote
More than just a letter box
Nintendo Letter Box, also known by the catchier title of Swapnote in North America, filled a notable gap in the 3DS’ functionality when it was launched in late December last year. When the handheld launched various features were bare-bone or missing, and one frustrating omission was the lack of any meaningful way to...
News Nothing Says "Marry Me" Like Swapnote
Romance is alive
Communication freebie Nintendo Letter Box/Swapnote is ideal for sketchy doodles and sharing glorious 3D photos of your dinner, but could it have a higher purpose? Could it be used to bring about a life of blissful matrimony? Yes. The video below is simultaneously the nerdiest and most heartwarming video we've seen all year. Call us...
February2012
News Nintendo Using Swapnote for Marketing Messages
Your inbox is about to bulge
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced during his Nintendo Direct conference that the company will use Nintendo Letter Box to send game-related messages to 3DS owners. Interestingly the service can target players of specific games — indeed, players of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D in Europe should keep...
News Swapnote Could Have Been Released on DSiWare
Development detailed
Popular 3DS app Nintendo Letter Box (aka Swapnote) could have been the light of day on DSi, a new Iwata Asks reveals. Members of the development team reveal the game was originally in the works as DSiWare and had entered the debug phase at the tail-end of 2009, but several limitations imposed by the console's firmware held it...
January2012
News Iwata Hints at Upcoming Swapnote Update
What's on the way?
Swapnote/Nintendo Letter Box is still compelling many 3DS owners to open their console every day to see what's new, and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has hinted that there may be more to come from the app in the future. Speaking to investors, Iwata revealed that over 10 million notes were exchanged within four weeks of the app...
News Learn More About 'Swapnote RPG'
Now it's getting serious
Just over a week ago we discovered that there's a fan-developed Swapnote RPG waiting to be played. Creator Ben Gray has now posted a follow up video with more specific details on how it can work. This is useful information for those without much experience in pen and paper RPG games, with examples given for the player simply...
News Add Nikki to Your Mii Collection
No postage required
Many 3DS owners will have now dabbled with Nintendo Letter Box — also known as Swapnote — and have become familiar with Nikki, the rather helpful guide. She pops up often to help scribblers learn about new features or templates and is an all-round friendly, charming Mii. If her regular visits aren't enough, you can now...
