TheNintendo Switchturns five years old in 2022, yet it still has a certain charm that distinguishes it from other consoles. Several years ago, a gaming platform that functions as both a portable handheld and a home console would have been unthinkable, but Nintendo dreamed one up. TheSwitchmay not be as powerful as the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, but its on-the-go capabilities make it a great device for road trips, long commutes, and so on. Its modular design makes the Switch a worthy successor to Nintendo’s parallel lines of handheld devices and home consoles.
Still, one wonders if the Switch could have borrowed more fromNintendo handhelds like the 3DS. While the Switch is easy to transport and plays games smoothly in handheld mode, it doesn’t do much to actively encourage handheld play. The Nintendo 3DS was notoriously good at motivating fans to carry it around thanks in-large part to StreetPass, where players could earn rewards and play minigames after passing other users. Adding no feature similar to StreetPass seems like a missed opportunity for the Switch, which is otherwise a really strong console.
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Remembering StreetPass on the 3DS
StreetPass was a simple but effective way for 3DS users to make brief connections. As long as one’s 3DS was on, it would detect nearby players and send a notification. This user detection system found its way into quite a few 3DS games. For example, inBravely Default,new citizens would move into Norende Villagewhenever the player got a StreetPass Tag, giving the player more people to assign tasks when rebuilding Norende. Systems like these made players feel rewarded for taking their 3DS along while they were out.
Nintendo offered built-inways to engage with StreetPass, even if a 3DS user didn’t own any games with a StreetPass function. In the Mii Plaza, 3DS users could meet the Miis of other 3DS users they’ve tagged. Each Mii could help the player across a series of fun minigames, like the simple Find Mii RPGs and Puzzle Swap. The Mii Plaza didn’t give players a means to friend one another, but that was never the point. StreetPass simply allowed Nintendo fans to feel connected, even if they never actually met and talked.
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Adding StreetPass to Switch
Considering how much StreetPass offered to the 3DS, it’s surprising that the Switch didn’t get any similar functionality. Tons of Switch games could have benefited from StreetPass functionality;Super Smash Bros. Ultimatecould have rewarded Spirits for StreetPass Tags;Pokemon SwordandShieldcould have given players bonus items; and so on. An upgraded Mii Plaza on the Switch would’ve been great too. Nintendo continues to use Miis as player-made avatars in certain games, so a Mii Plaza app that came as a part of the Nintendo Switch wouldn’t have been out of place.
In theory, it’s not too late to put StreetPass on the Switch. The function operated off of local Wi-Fi, so it could be added as part of a major Switch update. Overall though,the Switch is probably too oldto add this function and have it be a substantial selling point. Too many games have missed the opportunity to use StreetPass, and the Switch may not have enough life left to truly reach the function’s true potential. Hopefully Nintendo hasn’t forgotten StreetPass altogether and will eventually bring it back in some other Nintendo console, whether it’s a fully handheld device like the 3DS or another modular console that will follow in theSwitch’s footsteps.
