Will the Switch's successor still use friend codes?

[Ondrashek06]

We used Nintendo Network IDs to add people on the Wii U. The reason why this was possible is because of 2 factors:
- the NNID system was implemented in the console from the start, unlike on the 3DS
- NNID usernames were permanent, immutable and unique.

Nintendo accounts have no settable identifier that is unique. Well, ONE is used, but it's labelled as a login ID and Nintendo is very strict about not using it anywhere except as a credential in the account login form.

So, what would Nintendo have to do to get rid of friend codes? One of the following things:
- Use a completely new account system yet again (for example Nintendo Global Identifier). Nintendo is most likely not doing this, because they spent time designing everything regarding the Nintendo Account system and they're not just doing this to use it on only 1 console.
- Let all users set a "Friend Username" for the new console on their Nintendo Account.
- Separate user profiles from online accounts and add based on console profile names, not an online identifier.

But why would Nintendo bother with doing any of this? They'll most likely just slap on another friend code system and call it a day. Probably with some form of twist on it, like using a different prefix instead of "SW" or adding in letters to make them shorter and easier to remember (i.e. 5XL2-9Q92).

 

[DTApple]

I hope not.

 

[Whom]

I wouldn't be surprised, especially since I'm assuming the Switch's successor will be more of a Switch 2 than something completely new. ...but god, I hope not.

 

[pojes]

We used Nintendo Network IDs to add people on the Wii U. The reason why this was possible is because of 2 factors:
- the NNID system was implemented in the console from the start, unlike on the 3DS
- NNID usernames were permanent, immutable and unique.

Nintendo accounts have no settable identifier that is unique. Well, ONE is used, but it's labelled as a login ID and Nintendo is very strict about not using it anywhere except as a credential in the account login form.

So, what would Nintendo have to do to get rid of friend codes? One of the following things:
- Use a completely new account system yet again (for example Nintendo Global Identifier). Nintendo is most likely not doing this, because they spent time designing everything regarding the Nintendo Account system and they're not just doing this to use it on only 1 console.
- Let all users set a "Friend Username" for the new console on their Nintendo Account.
- Separate user profiles from online accounts and add based on console profile names, not an online identifier.

But why would Nintendo bother with doing any of this tensile tester? They'll most likely just slap on another friend code system and call it a day. Probably with some form of twist on it, like using a different prefix instead of "SW" or adding in letters to make them shorter and easier to remember (i.e. 5XL2-9Q92).

n at least a few ways, Nintendo is in unprecedented territory. The Switch is their first hybrid platform. It is currently their second-best selling platform ever, and it's a reasonable prediction that it could eclipse the DS.

Nintendo's radio silence (for now) for the rest of the year (besides Pikmin 4 and Pokemon DLC) and next year does suggest a Switch 2 is coming out at least by the end of Q1 2025. It's pretty likely Switch 2 could launch at any quarter in 2024 past Q1 (the end of the fiscal year).

But let's imagine Nintendo drags the Switch out even further. Do we have some historical precedence for this? Yes, we do. The Game Boy launched in Japan and NA in 1989 (most other regions followed in 1990). The Game Boy Color didn't launch until Q4 1998, and the Game Boy Advance didn't launch until the first half of 2001. I mentioned both of these platforms because there is still a debate whether or not the GBC is a midgen upgrade or a successor.

Nintendo wants Switch to have a long-life cycle, but whether or not that means a very long-life cycle before replacement is yet to be determined.

What would happen if Switch didn't get a successor until Q4 2026? What games and potential new iterations of the Switch could we see? And do you think it could be possible for Switch to have a Pro, 4K, or Deluxe branded version that launches at some point between Q2 2024 and Q4 2026 that is a Game Boy Color situation all over again? And then would it be possible to have a Switch 2 wait all the way until Q4 2028 or later?