Nintendo Switch Won't Have a Web Browser at Launch

[Steven Bogos]

Nintendo Switch Won't Have a Web Browser at Launch

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Nintendo's Tatsumi Kimishima has confirmed that the system will not have a web browser, at least at launch.

We can add one more thing to the list of stuff the Nintendo Switch won't support at launch: web browsing. In an interview with Time Magazine [http://time.com/4662446/nintendo-president-switch-interview/], Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima has confirmed that at least for the time being, there will be no web browsing capabilities for the Switch.

"In terms of the Internet browser, since all of our efforts have gone toward making Switch an amazing dedicated video game platform, it will not support it, at least at launch," said Kimishima. This is almost the exact same thing Nintendo said when we found out the Switch wouldn't support video streaming services [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/169307-Report-No-Netflix-on-Nintendo-Switch-at-Launch]. However, one could argue that a web browser is much more integral to the gaming experience: the Switch is billed as a system that can be taken and played anywhere, but without a web browser there is no way to access public wi-fi networks that require a sign-in from a browser.

The Wii U's browser, for example, was specifically designed in a way that allowed gamers to access it without closing the game you were playing. This neat little feature allowed you to do cool stuff like upload screenshots to imgur.

Source: Time Magazine [http://time.com/4662446/nintendo-president-switch-interview/]

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[Jacked Assassin]

Nintendo breathes a sigh of relief that people won't play an HTML5 knockoff of some of its first party titles like Snipperclips.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Because of course it wont. Why would I want to use a browser in a mobile device, why would I want to sign in to wifi spots, why would I want to tab over and check a forum or guide or browse the escapist.

Lord knows no one watches video or surfs the internet on their phone or tablet....

Everything about this system makes it seem half baked.

You know all that basic fuctionality we've had since 360 and early smart phone era, why would I even expect any of that in my 300 dollar new console.

 

[Avnger]

You know all that basic fuctionality we've had since 360 and early smart phone era, why would I even expect any of that in my 300 dollar new console.

Hell, the damn 3DS has a built-in browser! I switch between my game and the internet on it like at least once every 15-20 min while playing to look up different stuff.

The Switch is rapidly becoming (if it wasn't already) the platform that nobody wants. It is taking the worst features of a console and combining it with the worst features of a handheld.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I don't really care because I don't buy a games console to browse the internet when I've got a PC for that, but Nintendo shouldn't be neglecting to include features in the Switch that the Wii and Wii U had. That really is never a good idea.

 

[TelosSupreme]

And Nintendo continues to show how little they care about catching up.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Nintendo: Our Nintendo brand streaming app will only be available through the Switch companion app on your smart phone. Our Nintendo brand web browser will only be available through the Switch companion app on your smart phone. The Nintendo store will only be available through the Switch companion app on your smart phone.

Why are people paying $470AU for this thing again?

 

[TheScorpion]

Hooray!

More Corner-Cutting!

 

[goofsg]

you people are the problem with the gaming community calling out high end graphics and a internet browser.
my i remind you its a VIDEO GAME console.you play games on it. if you want to browse the web go on your computer use your phone.
sorry you cant netflix and chill with your nintendo console any more. if you wanna watch Netflix i dont know use your laptop.

 

[goofsg]

its a gaming console not an entertainment system if you want these features so bad there is the roku,apple tv and google chromcast its because of gamers like this why we got the horrendous xbox one

all i hear are skeptics, but i never hear the good things about the switch. no one mentions a year sub scription is going to be 17 dollars.

 

[totheendofsin]

As much as I'm looking forward to the system it's becoming clear that March 3rd is basically a "soft launch", they want the hardware in peoples hands so they can spread word of mouth advertising in time for a major marketing push during the holiday season

 

[Battenberg]

I'm curious - of all the people complaining about there being no browser on the Switch how many of you actually use the browser on other current gen consoles (or older consoles like the PS3 and 360)? I'm guessing pretty much nobody does because it's always a crappy way to browse compared to a PC, phone, or tablet.

I mean there's been a lot of announcements already that have tanked any interest I have in the Switch but this one just seems like a total non-issue to me.

 

[sagitel]

snip

people (rightfully so) expect a 300$ console coming out in 2017 to be better than a console who at launch was 250$. they expect it to be better at everything except maybe games and battery life. so if it isnt, then whats the point?

 

[Naldan]

The Nintendo store will only be available through the Switch companion app on your smart phone.

Are you serious?


To those complaining about complainers who complain about there being no browser:

My phone is pretty bad, my PC is supposed to be off while I'm outside or on a console, and I did use the browser on my consoles pretty regularly. Also, I hate the small screen on any smartphone.

And as if the browser would use so many resources in the first place. And having a browser doesn't mean that the console is required to also serve me food. Stop that hyperbolic crap.

 

[Ecks]

its a gaming console not an entertainment system if you want these features so bad there is the roku,apple tv and google chromcast its because of gamers like this why we got the horrendous xbox one

all i hear are skeptics, but i never hear the good things about the switch. no one mentions a year sub scription is going to be 17 dollars.

It is not going to be 17 dollars and you naive to even believe that.

 

[goofsg]

its a gaming console not an entertainment system if you want these features so bad there is the roku,apple tv and google chromcast its because of gamers like this why we got the horrendous xbox one

all i hear are skeptics, but i never hear the good things about the switch. no one mentions a year sub scription is going to be 17 dollars.

It is not going to be 17 dollars and you naive to even believe that.

The estimate was 17 to 30 dollars that's still better than paying 60. For a year

 

[Elvis Starburst]

On the one hand... How many people actually needed that browser at launch? Cause I don't know many people that prefer to browse the internet on their video gaming consoles compared to any other method.
On the other hand... It's 2017 Nintendo, get your shit together. Cmon

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

The Nintendo store will only be available through the Switch companion app on your smart phone.

Are you serious?

Mostly not. But the cynic in me thinks that since the console can't run it's flagship title at 1080 @60fps, I'm starting to think that the console is capable of running very little, so more and more functionality will be offloaded to the companion app.

 

[bjj hero]

you people are the problem with the gaming community calling out high end graphics and a internet browser.
my i remind you its a VIDEO GAME console.you play games on it. if you want to browse the web go on your computer use your phone.
sorry you cant netflix and chill with your nintendo console any more. if you wanna watch Netflix i dont know use your laptop.

I think you have missed the problem. As a portable console, being able to sign into public wifi is a big deal. And some of these need passwords/email address entered through a browser. That is a massive oversight.

The more I hear, the less I want a switch.

 

[Saelune]

Alright well...Ok, I guess this is technically a shitty point, but...

I used my Wii U alot for looking up stuff while playing Xbox One and PS4 games...cause I could use the gamepad without having to change which HDMI port my screen was on...

Or I had youtube playing Game Grumps while I was gaming.