The Nintendo Switch is in our hands, but currently it is little more than a game playing device. This is fine, perfectly fine in fact, but those who want to use the console to browse the web or watch movies will have to wait a while for some of these things. Luckily, not everything will be pushed beyond release date, with Nintendo giving details on the Nintendo Switch Day One update that will enable some features that had been missing up until now.
One of these features is the ability to connect to internet authenticated WiFi. The Nintendo Switch doesn’t currently have an internet browser, so if you are connecting to a wireless connection that requires you to load up a webpage for authentication, such as at a hotel or airport, it wouldn’t work right now. Thankfully this will be a part of the Nintendo Switch Day One update, so don’t worry about that upcoming trip.
The patch notes explain: “Ability to connect online using hotspots that require authentication, such as at a hotel or café. A web applet will open up so the user can sign-in or accept terms of use.”
Finally, the two other big things coming in the Nintendo Switch Day One update are related to Nintendo’s own features. The newly important Nintendo account will be added, allowing owners to link their Nintendo account to the console for various uses. It will also enable the Nintendo eShop and all of its functionality. Though this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to download all those great Virtual Console titles, as that still won’t work at launch.
Some have wondered if the Nintendo Switch launch is a bit rushed, with the console lacking a lot of functionality that are expected of systems these days. It seems, instead, like Nintendo is taking a different approach than other companies. The aim seems to be to get a soft launch out there, with people buying the Switch as a long term investment, rather than an instant reward. This is evidenced also by the launch lineup, which is good, but not amazing. However, the following few months see some great titles getting released.
This is just me speculating though. Let me know in the comments if you agree or disagree with my assessment.
