Switch complaints1.jpg

The internet is great for many things. It's an incredible resource for information on how the universe works, societies and cultures of the world and how to make a nice dressing for your salad. It's also home to people's passions that they can then share with others - in the gaming space alone people can share their art, videos, music and general love of the medium.

The internet is also great for complaints, lots and lots of them. If you want to know why people 'hate' something, the web is there for you, and you can wallow in unending despair and frustration - if that floats your boat.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788k
Watch on YouTube

With the launch of the Nintendo Switch we've had the full range of reactions. Nice little details and fun things have been found, but at the same time lots have been complaining about various aspects of the hardware. Some have been system owners with gripes, others (to be blunt) have been sniping from the sidelines, which they're perfectly entitled to do. Some of the issues we've covered in articles, others we've rolled our eyes at, so as previously promised we've brought together some of the most loudly made complaints and applied our own scale. For each one we share an opinion on whether the complaint is 'valid', 'fair-ish' or simply say 'are you kidding me?!'. The 'fair-ish' category reflects complaints that aren't necessarily inaccurate, but have been blown out of proportion. Some entries are a mix of two categories.

As this is the internet, the list of complaints is quite long... let's get to it!

Wii U web browser.jpg

It Should Have a Web Browser - 'Valid'

Nintendo, unsurprisingly, has brushed off the absence of a browser due to its focus on the core features of the console. The oddity, of course, is that the system does use a browser of sorts quite a lot, with the Switch using the same underlying set of tools and technology as 3DS and Wii U. Of course, Nintendo would need to customise and develop its version of a user browser, as it did with its previous systems, and that's the process that's been on ice.

This writer has been guilty in past comments on this for being dismissive of the need for a web browser, on the basis that smartphones and tablets are alternatives, yet that's not fair to those without those sorts of devices to hand. Beyond that it shouldn't be hard to pause a game, fire up a browser on the device and look at guides etc when needed, as could be a habit with the Wii U. All of the connectivity and capabilities people want is on the system, but it's just not been packaged and made available to end users.

Considering the tablet-like form of the device and its multi-touch screen, too, a browser really should be included; hopefully it'll come in an update soon.

It Should Have Media Apps Like Netflix, Amazon Prime etc - 'Valid'

Again, this writer has been dismissive of this complaint in the past (because of availability on other devices), which isn't entirely fair.

Much like the web browser, we suspect support for some apps will come along in a future update, but at launch there's no way to use the Switch (docked or portable) to stream TV or YouTube videos. Streaming is now the method through which so many consume their entertainment and media, so not having that on a gaming device in 2017 doesn't look particularly good.

Again, Nintendo focused on getting a gaming console out in this financial year, but the absence of apps like these isn't ideal, and is a step back from current support on Wii U (and even, to a degree, 3DS).

Switch card.jpg

Locking Save Data to Hardware is Dumb - 'Valid'

This is a real quirk of data management on the Nintendo Switch, in that you have some control over where apps and screenshots go, but save data is always on the internal memory, whether you have a microSD card or not. Why?

One rather hopeful theory is that Nintendo is working on implementing automated cloud (online) backups of saves (like hardware rivals) through Nintendo Accounts. As these accounts are mandatory to access online services that would certainly make sense. Frankly, considering the complaints the company should also let us backup save data to external storage, regardless of potential Cloud plans.

Nintendo needs to hurry up and get on with it, though, as right now a broken, stolen or defective Nintendo Switch takes save data with it. If you get 60 hours into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and then something goes wrong that'll really sting; that's an unacceptable and easily avoidable state of affairs. Even if Nintendo Customer Services makes good on potentially transferring save data when replacing systems for any reason, we shouldn't need to rely on that in 2017.

Dead Pixels Are a Defect - 'Valid'

This is one that could evolve to not be too much of a complaint, it'll depend on Nintendo's classification of what number of dead pixels justifies a replacement and how common the problem actually is. What's prompted concern is Nintendo's assertion that 'small numbers' of dead or stuck pixels are 'not a defect'.

LCD screens always carry a risk of defects and dead pixels, and hardware companies have different policies on what counts as severe enough for a replacement. Ultimately, anyone who puts down money for a Switch and finds their portable gaming compromised by defects on the screen will feel disappointed, and balancing that with the realities of consumer technology is tricky.

It's valid to say that affected screens are an issue though - the test will be how Nintendo handles complaints when the statistically inevitable flaws happen.

Mk8 Tabletop.JPG

I Can't Charge the Console and Use Tabletop Mode at the Same Time - 'Valid'

Due to the USB-C charger input being at the bottom, you can't actually charge the system and play in Tabletop mode, unless perhaps you splash out on a third-party stand. It's a little odd, considering the fact that some games (like Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! and 1-2-Switch) are well suited to spontaneous multiplayer gaming on the go, one of the system's selling points. Yet the battery will die after a few hours, so if you forget to top it up you could have a game ending and no easy way to carry on while charging.

In a system that we'd argue is pretty well designed in terms of its engineering, this is a mis-step nonetheless.

The Lack of Bluetooth Headphone Support is Disappointing - 'Valid'

The Switch uses Bluetooth technology, of course, though some are disappointed that it doesn't support their wireless headphones. On the one hand it's not like these headsets are universally supported by all TVs etc, but they're becoming increasingly common. Especially, it must be said, since Apple ditched the conventional headphone socket in its latest devices, pushing millions of its users towards wireless Bluetooth sets.

At home it's easy enough for those with wired headphones to plug them into the console in portable mode, or use different setups through their TV. Ultimately, though, some are going wireless with headphones and it'd be preferable for Switch - especially considering its portable nature - to support that. Like a number of issues, hopefully it will get resolved in an update.

The Left Joy-Con is Disconnecting - 'Valid / Fair-ish'

Is there an occasional problem with Bluetooth connectivity in the left Joy-Con? Yes. If you're a certain distance away from the hardware and 'obscure' it, there can be momentary issues with inputs on the controller. Is it a constant problem? Certainly not in 'normal' gameplay. It seems to be something that can pop up occasionally, cause a few seconds of headscratching and then go away for a while.

So the 'fair-ish' co-rating reflects the fact that the internet took a relatively small issue (which Nintendo should resolve, no doubt) and attempted to make it a big problem. It all got a little silly considering the reality (and actual frequency) of the problem.

[Update: As an interesting side-note, some theories bouncing around suggest this is a hardware issue and not fixable through firmware. If that's accurate (which it might be, we're not 100% sure) then this will be complained about until the cows come home.]

Will this last my whole flight, and will using the Joy-Cons detached get me in trouble?

The Battery Life is Too Short - 'Fair-ish'

Is the Nintendo Switch battery a hulking beast that means we can play Zelda on a trans-Atlantic flight with no charging? No. It seems comparable to the original 3DS in terms of game time, which is enough for a sensible session but not particularly amazing.

That said, a few hours should be a decent session before most 'switch' to the dock or plug the thing in, albeit with the aforementioned 'valid' complaint about being unable to charge in Tabletop mode. Let's remember, Switch is the most powerful portable gaming system out there, and can do relatively impressive things on the go. If you play a demanding game at full settings on your smartphone or tablet, what happens? Its battery drains faster than a bathtub.

Batteries in technology are still mediocre in most devices when strained (only impressive when doing little and in 'sleep' mode), so the Switch is using a fairly hefty battery just to get modest results when pushing its games. It's not brilliant, but that's modern technology. Powerful but mean on batteries - that's why so many heavy users of smartphones and tablets carry an external power supply in their bags.

It's Too Expensive - 'Fair-ish'

The debate around the core price of the Nintendo Switch hardware definitely has two valid sides. A $249.99 core offering could have really ticked boxes with a broader consumer base, but it's also worth acknowledging that we're buying a tablet-like console, the dock and two very clever and impressive Joy-Con controllers out of the box. Whether the $299.99 price point will resonate outside of dedicated early adopters will become clear in the next few months.

When topping up with accessories, though, being a Switch owner is expensive. Extra Joy-Con, the Pro Controller, a case, games, it all adds up to a lot of money. First world problems, for sure, though as is practically always the case with any hardware launch the initial prices are perhaps a little higher than ideal.

It's always been that way with new gaming hardware from Nintendo and its rivals. Nothing new here.

The Joy-Con Wrist-Straps Are Tough / Annoying to Put On - 'Fair-ish'

Adding these little black plastic wrist-strap grips is surprisingly fiddly and difficult, especially considering how intuitive and easy it is to connect and detach the Joy-Con controllers to the system and Grip. The wrist-strap grips make the shoulder buttons easier to hit and add a little safety, but they can be pretty hard to clip in and remove. The small 'lock' lever is a tad awkward, and it feels like too much force is needed at times.

Not exactly a critical issue, but certainly a fiddle.

Switch dock.JPG

It's Too Easy to Scratch the Screen - 'Fair-ish' / 'Are You Kidding Me?!'

The Nintendo Switch screen isn't the sort of tough glass you get on some smartphones and tablets. This was possibly a pricing issue, with the system being sold at a rate below some of the better smart devices out there and including controllers etc in the box. A screen protector is certainly worth considering if you can apply it well enough that it's not a bubbly mess. There are also some that have reported a dock that was slightly out of shape or scratched right out of the box, and that then damaged the screen; some of those owners are successfully getting replacements from Nintendo, too. That's the 'fair-ish' perspective.

That said, we do think some have evidently been reckless with their devices and then complained that the screen isn't as tough as The Thing's backside. Yes, the dock should have a little more protection, but in some cases we do wonder what gamers are doing to scratch the system so badly when docking it. Practicing their tap dancing as they put the console in and out of the dock? It's simple, with a bias towards the back of the dock (meaning any impact is on the non-screen side) slowly slot it in, and likewise carefully remove it. It's not hard to be careful.

You've spent a lot of money on a console. Nintendo could have put more material on the dock and included a screen protector in the box, but do show care towards it. And if you have kids / cats / dogs / other pets, put it away somewhere in a draw / bag / whatever.

Friend Codes Are Back Arghghdghhgghghghgh - 'Fair-ish' / 'Are You Kidding Me?!'

Friend codes aren't great. That's fair.

The reaction to them being one option on the Switch, less so.

What the Switch lacks at launch is the ability to add friends through Twitter and Facebook - Miitomo did this, and oddly you can add friends from that (and Super Mario Run / Fire Emblem Heroes) on Switch, so Nintendo got halfway there. We expect an update will add these social networks as options in the future.

Friend codes may be a bad thing, but even their implementation isn't as obnoxious as in the past. The code entry need only go one way - you can send / accept / reject friend code requests without knowing the other person's code, avoiding the ponderous double exchange.

So just chill the heck out.

Snipperclips.jpg

There Are No Games - 'Are You Kidding Me?!'

There are games on Switch at launch, what some mean is that it doesn't have the exact games they want.

There's a cross-platform all-time-great game, a party game, a return of a classic Konami franchise and a few more at retail. On the eShop there's futuristic racing, another RPG, a lovely first-party co-op puzzle game, a fantastic 'Nindie' platformer and a few more options. If a different region's eShop has games you want you can even access them relatively easily, too.

We've seen worse launch line-ups, that's for sure.

The Nintendo Switch is an Underpowered Wii U Wannabe - 'Are You Kidding Me?!'

We won't know what the Switch can really do for a little while, just like it takes every console a year or two to really push its limits. Developers get used to the tools and get better at extracting performance.

The Breath of the Wild, of course, can be directly compared to its Wii U iteration. On the new system there's a higher resolution, deeper colours and improved sound. That said, the gulf isn't massive, so Wii U owners get an absolutely fine-and-dandy version of a wonderful game (we're going to have finalised impressions of that iteration with you soon).

We've seen some people online use that comparison to bash the Switch for its power. Yet the arguments are moot - Nintendo's been a 'concept' hardware developer for multiple generations now, that is the path it's chosen. If you want to home in on the negative then, yes, there are serious doubts the Switch can deliver the experiences that strain PS4 / Xbox One and will find cosier homes on PS4 Pro / Scorpio. What else is new?

Some developers have been honest and suggested this, and others have also praised what the Switch can do on a technical level, not just in its power - especially related to its portable form factor - but in its tricks and capabilities with Joy-Con and so on. Not all developers want to produce epic open-world multi-platform titles with end credits that feature hundreds of names, it's a broader gaming world.

The comparisons in raw power with Sony and Microsoft hardware will never stop, and it's not easy for some to accept that some multi-platform mega-games will always require a PC / PS4 / Xbox One to play. Yet the Switch is very much its own beast with its own possibilities - you can choose to find that exciting rather than a stick with which to beat it.

So there you go, a take on some of the valid and less-so complaints around the Switch. Let us know what you think of these (and anything else we've not mentioned) in the comments.