Twitch, the popular livestreaming platform, has made public its intent to discontinue the support for its app on Nintendo Switch. The termination, slated for January 31st, 2024, will be a phased process beginning with new users being unable to download the Twitch app from the Nintendo's Switch eShop from 6th November 2023.
The decision to end Twitch’s support for Switch might come as a surprise to some, considering that the Twitch App was only launched on the Switch eShop pretty recently, in November 2021. The app provided a gateway for users to watch livestream gaming videos, esports, and real-life broadcasts on their Nintendo Switch systems, paralleling the functionality offered by the website and smartphone application.
In an official conversation with The Verge, Twitch commented on its decision to withdraw the app from Nintendo Switch’s eShop, stating it was a tough call to make. However, the company underscored that Nintendo continues to be a highly regarded partner and its appreciation for the tremendous support lent by the Switch community to Twitch and its streamers.
While Twitch's integration in Switch offered fans added convenience, the application's functionality and user interface left some room for criticism. There were complaints regarding the app’s limited interactivity features. For instance, users were unable to use or view the chat unless they were not personally viewing the stream. Additionally, the option to stream games directly from the switch was not available. The in-the-moment viewing experience was further hampered by limited controls - only options being to pause, hide the UI, or close the stream.
For those who haven’t yet acquainted themselves with the Twitch app on Switch, there still remains an opportunity to explore what the app has to offer on the gaming console — until early 2024 for existing users and up until November 6th for new users. In case any assistance is needed regarding the free download, detailed instructions are available on the Twitch website.
The move to pull Twitch from Nintendo Switch's eShop isn’t expected to have a significant impact on the overall user experience. Most of the Twitch fans, who primarily view streams on PCs or mobile devices, might not even notice the change. However, the decision still marks an end to a brief but notable episode of collaboration between the gaming console and the live-streaming giant.
Despite the decision, both Twitch and Nintendo continue to share a mutual respect and it can be hoped that their partnership will continue to explore new avenues in future. As always, users and gaming enthusiasts will have a key part to play in shaping these developments, and it will be interesting to see how things pan out.
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