The Nintendo Switch Online app for Android and iOS is far from perfect. In fact we've made it abundantly clear how we feel about the execution, even for the fact for that this writer actually likes the concept of voice chat handled separately.
As such, we've decided to take the helm and navigate the good ship Nintendo Life towards the harbour of constructive criticism for this jolly venture into needless complexity, and offer five spanking new improvements for the app. Make sure you check out the video above that contains said improvements, and if you have any of your own be sure to jot them down in the comments below.
Comments 54
Being able to have it open while in another app would be nice.
No.1 - Throw it in the bin. And start again.
They should hire someone who actually knows what they're doing. Then there wouldn't be all these glaringly obvious problems.
How about have it be on the Switch instead and throw the phone version in the trash.
There's your cynical comment for the day folks!
Have a nice day everyone.
I have no issues with the "discord" styled app, but it needs to run better, heard stories like it cant run in the background and the screen cant even go off
Honestly, I don't need the app. Just give me a stand-alone Splatnet 2 app and I'm happy.
@KirbyTheVampire So in other words, let someone other than DeNA do it. ^^
An external app doesn't add anything, only takes things away and makes them more complicated. The Switch has a headphone jack - something other consoles don't - so why can't Nintendo integrate something into the OS?
I feel like the app exists solely because Nintendo is having a tough time getting away from the dual screen. I think the best way they could improve it would be to integrate the functionality into the Switch and then do away with the app. There are plenty of kids that have a Switch that don't have a smartphone... Cant believe Nintendo requires a separate device to fully utilize their paid online service.
Make it optional. Let voice chat be accessible through the console itself, and have info like Splatnet viewable on a web browser.
@Captain_Toad well it's the comment that makes the most sense.
@Captain_Toad You can throw your phone in the trash. I'm not
Nintendo won't integrate it.
With that, I say don't use it. Use the multitude of free VOIP services out there and move on.
They could fix it so it doesn't screw up my phone's ability to interact with the headphone jack. That would be nice.
The key thing that needs to change is how the audio is handled. This needs to be done through the switch. This way game and voice audio can blend seamlessly without the need for spaghetti cabling. The chat room, controls and settings could still be managed through the app, much like how you use a remote control to use your TV. It tethers to the switch and allows the console to utilise the device as a 2nd display.
Apart from this, maybe give the app greater access to the ecosystem as a whole, with options to purchase games or read news updates from the app instead of the Switch.
Splatnet 2 is great, but voice chat is terrible. Did DeNA do this? They should know how to make good apps.
Step 1: Put the app on the Switch itself, not on a smartdevice
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Everything other issue is pretty much secondary compared to this one.
Second screen for maps and inventory.
I don't care if the screen gets off or not.
@SanderEvers
It's the easiest thing they could do. But knowing Nintendo, you're probably right
redesign it & get someone with half a brain & a set of nuts to try it out. As if they had did that the first time around they would have been told you bunch fffffffffffffffffffffffff idiots this is a pile of absolute garbage that dosent work
Being able to axcess the app and freinds thru said app without being in game would be nice
@Kalmaro
On every story I see you are the first comment.
I admire your dedication.
6. Let me use the damned thing without buying a Switch. Use it to link in apps as well.
I really like the splatoon companion part of the app, Just the voice part that is rubbish. Only way to fix voice for me is get it off the app and on the console where it belongs.
@LuckyPower The controllers on xbox and ps4 do have headphone jacks and guess what, you plug in a headset to them and it works automatically for chat!
Cue someone mentioning that the very first generation of controllers, which lasted about 6 months for xbox had no jack. They all do for over 3 years now.
There's no need for discussion. Sony and Microsoft have already done the work for Nintendo.
@LuckyPower But what about when the Switch is docked?
The system needs to support bluetooth headsets.
The best way to improve it is to pull it from the app store and delete it from existence. They should just stop now before they dig the hole any deeper.
Others have already said it, but the app itself is not the main issue, even if it was fantastic, the Switch should be able to do voice chat by itself.
Also being able to use the App for voice chat would be great, but being the only way to do it is horrible.
Note to Nintendo, gamers doesn't slam on the app cause they hate it, they slam on it cause it doesn't freaking work the way they want it so fix it already.
How about build all of this functionality into the Switch itself, and also update the system to allow for Bluetooth headsets!
Actually Alex the invites do show On the Switch and the phone...
1. Integrate it into the Switch OS.
2. ???
3. PROFIT
Just have it as a Switch App that you can run in the background. It is actually as simple as that.
I like this idea, but this app doesn't work as well as people thought. But instead of complaining, here's a list of things that Nintendo needs to do to make it a winner.
-Allow chat in open lobbies: Currently, if you join an open lobby (a game that can be joined by anyone eg Turf War, Salmon Run, and Ranked Mode) you can't chat with anyone at anytime, teammates or otherwise. Needs fixing asap
-App doesn't work when phones asleep or multitasking: Chat cuts out if your phone falls asleep, if someone calls you, or if you exit the app to use your phone. Every other major communication app works under these conditions, they have to implement this.
-Allow messaging in app: You can't send any form of message to a friend other than an invite. No screenshots, no audio messages, not even a simple text. Needs to be added
-Sync screenshots from Switch to Switch App: All screenshots made by the Switch should automatically be available on the app to share. No ones mentioning this functionality, and it'd actually give the app full reason to exist. This would also go a long way in making the app a hub for everything non-gaming.
And that's really it. The idea is solid. Nintendo had to solve how to make communication possible while on the go without killing battery life. Its a good idea, it just tripped out the gate. But if Nintendo implements these 4 changes, they'd have a service worth paying for
Meh, I like that it's handled independently to the console. There are a couple of ways it can be improved, but as has been said, it isn't the final version of the software.
I don't see Nintendo making this work any better for one solid reason. Social gaming where you voice chat is not as big in Japan. Same reason the system has like one app. If it doesn't help their business in Japan then they will not develop it. End of story.
The best solution, is a new solution!
just 1 way, trash it and release one on the switch.
Put in the OS, Put in the OS, PUT IN THE O BLOODY S!!!!!!!!!!!
Alex, you seem to be a lovely person but I think that your videos should be more streamlined and to the point.
@Voldemort807 Thanks, I was actually doing it as a bit of an experiment to see how long before someone said anything. Took almost two weeks of trying, haha.
if only we had a device with a screen and microphone/headphone jack that can connect with zero latency to our consoles...WAIT A MINUTE lol
@LuckyPower what are you talking about? other consoles have headphone jacks.
It should be on the OS, as others have said. Also, can you really not talk to random people on it? That would make it totally superfluous, surely?
On a more positive note I loved the video, Alex. All hail the Analogy King!
Messaging, online/offline friend list, works with screen off
#1: Make the chat and communication app standard on the NS console itself. This can be accessed with the touchscreen/buttons while portable or the Joycons/buttons while docked.
#2: Make the smartphone app optional, with it's emphasis being to receive notifications rather than to be relied upon for chat connections.
#3: Improve the app by adding basic features, friend list controls, and player/account search options which are relevant to the system (taking cues from Miiverse), rather than simply acting as a supremely shoddy communication option compared to Discord, etc.
#4: Update the system firmware to allow bluetooth headsets to connect and be generally compatible with the app, along with general support for more than just one or two NS specific headsets. Don't require the headset to be connected in any way to a smartphone, etc.
#5: Improve upon and add more features that act as companion apps, such as SplatNet.
I wouldn't hold my breath on Nintendo following through on these steps, yet they must be taken to create a proper and modern chat app interface for the NS.
Can't wait to see how this all turns out , I'm guessing a release of a Nintendo switch delux edition ?
Try using this instead: https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/nintendo-switch/in_game_chat I only just set it up and don't have any friends to try it with...heh. So I'm going to need others to try it for me!
Sorry, I can't sit through 10 minutes of gibberish. There's only one way to fix the app and that's cancel it and allow voice chat on the [removed] Switch!
Mind your language please - Octane
Way no. 1... delete it and integrate it into the switch itself.
You dont need 5.
@gatorboi352 headphone jack on controller eliminates any need for a blue tooth headset since you have to hold a controller anyway. Strangely how every other game console currently operates...
@bolt05 so you're proposing a headphone jack in the joycon itself rather than the switch tablet.
The first point they should adress, even before fixing the app.... is making the app available WORLDWIDE.
Its an insult as a costumer that if I want to use the damn app I have to download it as an apk since Nintendo can't use a bloody map and see that America has more country than the freaking US, Canada and Mexico!
Latin America STILL doesn't have any support!!
@gatorboi352 pro controller and the joycon grip should have had a jack yes. This app is sloppy implementation regardless of the way the joycon currently work. They could have left the useless infrared transmitter out and built a jack into the red joycon itself.
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