While everyone is excited about the Nintendo Switch 2, and some people are fuming over the price of the games and accessories, I actually wanted to touch on one of the new features that has kind of been under the radar – the new Nintendo Switch App.
Nintendo is planning to revamp the current app with a new Switch 2-focused app in May, but it seems the experience will be more than just a facelift. In fact, the app holds quite a lot of potential that will likely set the bar for the industry.
The company detailed some of the app’s features during the announcement of The Legend of Zelda Switch 2 Edition games. Most notable is the new Zelda Notes app. So what it seems is that the Nintendo Switch App will act as the foundation for the Switch 2’s second-screen experience. As games are released, this app will get add-on support which extends the game from the Switch 2 to your mobile device.
The first game to use this add-on feature is Zelda Notes. This hub is more than just a social add-on similar to what we’ve seen in the past. Instead, it opens up the app to directly interact with the console in real-time and adds achievement-like milestones to unlock, a library of amiibos to keep track of, a digital map, in-game navigation, add-on voice memories, and the ability to view and share screenshots you take in-game.
It seems that whatever issues Nintendo had with connectivity from a media sharing perspective and social aspect will be fixed and improved on in the app. It also means that each game will offer new ways to expand on the experience by these add-ons like Zelda Notes.
One feature I spotted was the My Play Data. In the upcoming Zelda games, players will be able to track their play time, view various stats from their adventures, and even earn medals for certain tasks. While Nintendo has always shied away from a trophy or achievement system, this kind of introduces it on the console.
The medals are tied to your Nintendo Account, and you can share them with the Global Play Data system to see where you rank with other players in the world and your country. If you finish the game 100% and visit every shrine, your data will be up there with the top 1% of players. In a way, this is very similar to how the Platinum Trophy works on PS5.
Then there’s the amiibo section of this app. Nintendo explained that once you scan an amiibo for the first time, it is added to your collection and will appear in the Zelda Notes as an item you own. The system keeps track of how many amiibos you have scanned and rewards you for scanning the same one five days in a row.
I can see how this might be handy for players with a large collection of amiibos. Nintendo could perhaps have this feature available for every new game, and with set amiibos released, players can aim to collect them all and keep track of how many they own for each game.
Up to now, my amiibos have just been cool things on the shelf, but this will likely push me to complete sets more than ever before. Just to have this digital catalogue of what I own is a great way to keep track of things.
Outside of the trophy-like system and Nintendo kind of making me want to spend more money on amiibos, the app’s in-game functionality is also showing signs of a very bright future. Having a digital map on my phone with a checklist of things to see and do nearby in a game is exactly what I already do. However, up to now, I am at the mercy of fan-made websites that are often clunky and locked behind a paywall.
This app would drive me to 100% complete areas in games, knowing that there are items and treasures around that I can potentially collect. I can only imagine how other games will take advantage of this.
Even the added in-game content, such as the Zelda Memories, which plays voice notes when you enter certain areas in the game, is a fantastic way to keep players engaged. When you turn off the Switch 2, you can always use the app to plan your next session by seeing what you haven’t completed.
Of course, there’s also the sharing functionality. While this may be limited in the future depending on the game, the idea that I can design stuff in Tears of the Kingdom and share it with people is pretty neat. Custom-created content really does expand on the enjoyment of a game more than anything else.
Nintendo hasn’t shared exactly how other games will tie into the new app, but the possibilities have me eagerly waiting to see more. I can see myself keeping track of my Pokédex, or scanning for nearby Pokémon to catch in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Perhaps using the app to read up on the aliens I spot and defeat in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
It would also be pretty cool if Nintendo were to offer rewards with the achievements. Perhaps a custom skin in Mario Kart World if players unlock certain achievements in the app. A custom paraglider fabric in Tears of the Kingdom for doing a certain task. I think the whole system simply adds the extra value to the experience. Given how the app has been built on direct Switch 2 connectivity, I am excited to see where it all goes from here.
