UPDATE: They’re Baa-aack! Friend Codes Return To The Switch
Nintendo Adding New Friend Options
Updated 3/2/17
In our original story (below) we showcase the different ways in which you can add friends on the Nintendo Switch. Many people were a bit dismayed to see that one of the options includes sending a Friend Code out and having to put in a 12 digit code to add someone.
Polygon reached out to Nintendo about this, and got a response. It turns out that more methods will be added in the future.
Several methods can be used to add friends as quickly and easily as possible: · By linking Nintendo Switch to your Nintendo Account, your friends from Miitomo and Super Mario Run will appear as friend candidates so you can easily send them a friend request. Also, we are planning it so that friends from social networking services will be listed as candidates, too.
In the future, you will be able to send a friend request to friends associated with your NNID (Wii U/Miiverse) and Nintendo 3DS.
In some games you will be able to use an in-game interface to send friend requests.
You can send friend requests to those who have played with you recently.
You can establish a friend through local wireless communication.
You can also send a friend request by using a friend code.
This is just one more indication that the Nintendo Switch is releasing hot. Many of its features seem to be “coming soon”, but luckily the most important function of playing games is intact!
[Source: Polygon]
Original Story
Do you remember the days of the Wii and 3DS and having to each send a Friend Code to one another to play games online? Well, the Nintendo Switch does something similar, but it’s not quite as horrible as it sounds at first.
To add friends to the Switch you need to first update your brand new Switch. Once the update applies, you’ll have access to the online features of the system. You can add friends in various ways, including:
- Search for local users
- Search for users you’ve played with
- Search with Friend Code (12 digits)
- Sent Friend Requests
- Friend Suggestions
If you’re in the same room as someone and want to become friends, one of you just has to search for local users and send the request. If you were in an online game with a bunch of people and want to send a request to someone you played with, you’d search for them and send a request. Of course, there’s the old fashion way of sending your unique 12 digit code through text or e-mail and having the other person put it in his or her Switch to send a request. You can look at the requests you’ve previously sent and request again. Or, finally, if you’ve set up some friends in Miitomo or Super Mario Run, they will show up in your Friend Suggestions and you can send a request to them right through there.
No matter which method you choose to go with, you don’t both have to exchange the Friend Code. Once the person who receives the request to be added as a friend accepts, you’re both friends.
Now, could Nintendo have made this simpler? Of course! One only has to look at PlayStation 4 or Xbox One’s friend system to see how this could have been implemented. Is this the end of the world? Of course not. Still, it’s not the most ideal way to add friends to a console.
[Source: Press Start]
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
