2 major Switch problems Nintendo should fix before adding Netflix
Nintendo wants you media bingers to know: apps for services like Netflix and Huli will be coming to the Switch. Eventually
Though I have to say... the noise around Switch's missing media apps is confusing. Do we not have enough portable screens for watching reruns and original series? Does any Switch buyer not possess one or more of the following: a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop?
There's certainly a valid case to be made for bringing that kind of content to Switch. But Nintendo's just-released console -- while brimming with promise -- is beset by other issues that are arguably more pressing.
So while it's great to hear Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime say these apps "will come in time," I'd sure like to see the company fix these other issues far sooner.
1. Save data transfers
There is currently no way to transfer your save data from one Switch to another. Even though the console sports a slot for microSD cards, save files can only be stored to internal memory.
It's printed right there in a Nintendo FAQ.
The Switch's lack of basic file management features is one of the large black marks against the hardware right now. Console owners have no way to protect their precious data in the case of hardware failure. The Switch might be new, but accidents can occur at any time. If your Switch breaks tomorrow, your 70-hours-deep Zelda save is officially toast.
That is so not cool, and it's something Nintendo really needs to address right away.
2. Virtual Console
Before anything else, the Switch is a video game machine. Nintendo's Virtual Console -- a section of the online eShop where users can buy older titles from previous hardware generations -- was a no-show at launch.
We knew that ahead of time -- Nintendo announced it -- but the absence is still noticeable. Especially with the Switch's tiny launch lineup of nine games.
The math here is real simple: the Switch plays games. Currently, it has very few of those to boast of. Virtual Console would help that situation so much more than media apps you already have access to on a half-dozen other devices.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
