How to lock in your new Nintendo ID before Switch arrives
Do you have a Nintendo Network ID yet? Even if you think you do, you probably don't. Trust.
The Switch is almost here, and with it comes a whole new world of subscription-based online console services. We've thankfully come a long way since the days of Friend Codes, but there's still a new step to take if you plan to use your Switch online.
Try to bear with us on this one.
There are three elements at play here: your Nintendo Network account, your Nintendo Network account's nickname, and your Nintendo Network user ID. You probably have the first two if you've been online with any recent Nintendo hardware, like the Wii U or 3DS.
Want to check and make sure? Easy. Go to accounts.nintendo.com and sign in there with whichever email address you'd be using for online video game accounts. It would be the same one you used on your other hardware.
Signed in? Good. That's where you need to be. Scroll down on the "accounts" page -- which is where you land after you sign in -- and look for the "Used ID" sub-heading. There's a good chance you're looking at a blank text field there.
That's your online ID, what we're guessing will be Nintendo's equivalent to Xbox Gamertags and PlayStation IDs. Type in the name you'd like to use and you'll be set. (EDIT: Turns out, that's not the case. Find Nintendo's explanation below.)
It's an easy process, but you might want to act quickly if there's a particular online moniker you'd like to use. There's still plenty of time before the Switch releases on March 3, but better you take care of this now before there's a big rush.
We've reached out to Nintendo for more details on what purpose your user ID actually serves, so check back for updates once we have them.
Here's how the user IDs work, according to Nintendo:
A User ID is necessary to sign into a child’s account because the child does not have an email address to sign in with. General users have the option to set a User ID as well, and can sign into their Nintendo Account using either a User ID or the email address associated with their account. In any case, the user's Nintendo Account password is also required. User IDs are not displayed publically, and have no purpose in games.
Topics Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Switch
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.
