Nintendo fans will miss sharing game screenshots with their friends soon after it officially declared that it will cease the integration of X (formerly Twitter) on its Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED devices.
The Big N is not alone in this decision since other gaming giants like PlayStation and Xbox, have already removed similar social media features.
Ending Social Media Sharing on Nintendo Switch
Starting June 10, Nintendo will disable the ability for Switch users to upload screenshots directly to X from their consoles. This feature, available since the Switch's release in 2017, has allowed players to share gaming moments seamlessly with their social media circles. Additionally, the ability to send friend requests via the Nintendo Switch friend suggestions feature using X will also be terminated.
While the Japanese gaming giant plans to continue supporting Facebook integration for the time being, they have hinted that this service might also be phased out in the future, ComicBook reports.
How the X Support Removal Can Affect Games
The removal of X integration will particularly affect games like Splatoon 3 and Splatoon 2. These titles feature in-game functionalities that allow players to post directly to social media from various in-game locations.
With the upcoming changes, Nintendo aims to adapt the system to enable posts without a social media account. However, posts from players under the age of 13 will be restricted from view to ensure privacy and safety.
Why Nintendo Came Up With the Decision
Nintendo has not explicitly stated why they are pulling the plug on X integration, but industry trends suggest that rising API costs could be a major factor.
Earlier in the year, X significantly increased the charges for companies using its services on their platforms. This cost hike has already led PlayStation and Xbox to cut off their native posting capabilities to X, with Nintendo now following suit.
Despite that, X said that it's dedicated to improving the overall experience of gamers on social media, suggesting that its "strong partnership" with Nintendo remains.
"Our partnership with Nintendo remains strong, and we are working together to ensure a smooth transition for all users. We will continue collaborating with partners to bring new and exciting experiences to our global gaming community," X said in a post.
This surprising change marks a notable reduction in X's visibility and utility in the gaming world. The decision by major console manufacturers to end integration with X could pressure the social media platform to reconsider its pricing strategy to remain a relevant tool for gamers.
As of now, it remains in limbo if X will adjust its costs to entice back gaming companies.
For gamers, the change means finding new ways to share their favorite gaming moments. Although direct integration is going away, players can still manually share screenshots and updates by downloading their media to personal devices and posting from there.
In the meantime, let's cool our heads off since the new Nintendo Switch successor is indeed coming by 2025, Tech Times reported. This was officially announced by the company's President Shuntaro Furukawa on X.
