Nintendo Switch Still Using Friend Codes? Day One Update Pushes Questions About Online Interactivity, Success

Before the official launch of Nintendo Switch this Friday, a day one patch update revealed that it has brought back friend codes.

TIME defines how friend codes work:

“... The idea was that instead of adding friends through an online service, each physical game device would generate a unique alphanumeric code. The code worked sort of like a business card: if you wanted to add someone, you had to first swap codes. It was Nintendo's way of grappling with privacy concerns (and, ostensibly, predatory behavior), the idea being that you were more likely to know your virtual friends if you had to chat them up for a code first.”

Forbes said this means Nintendo not only requires users to add new friends using friend codes, the friend codes limits the current ways users add their friends in gaming consoles. Every other company in the gaming industry (from Microsoft to Sony to Blizzard to Valve) use normal friend lists to allow users to add their friends. Moreover, Nintendo America President Reggie Fils-Aime already told CNET specifically that they will not be using friend codes. Moreover, it has been pointed out that the friends cap list is also quite small at 300 max, as compared to XBox Live (at 1,000) and PSN (2,000).

However, P.J. McNealy of Digital World Research believes that Switch’s trajectory should be visible three months from now. "We're expecting 2 million units at launch. If they sell out immediately, it's a good early indicator, then the refresh rate in April, May and June bears close watching."