The Nintendo Switch 2 can pick up a 3DS feature from the cutting room floor

While Nintendo continues to withdraw from the handheld game market following the disclosure of handheld games Nintendo Switch 2the company should consider reviving the discontinued StreetPass feature from the heyday of the Nintendo 3DS. Between the likes of the Nintendo Wii and the original Nintendo DS, Nintendo has spent the past two decades refining its gaming hardware, culminating in its best-selling home console, the Nintendo Switch. As a successful combination of home and portable gaming, it's no surprise that subsequent Nintendo consoles such as the OLED model and the Nintendo Switch 2 have stayed true to the Switch.

However, despite the Switch's emphasis on portability and social gameplay with launch titles like 1-2-switch and Piece clipsFeatures that once played an important role in Nintendo's previous handheld consoles were not carried over to the next generation of its gaming hardware. More specifically, StreetPass was first introduced and last seen on the 3DS family of consoles, with Nintendo still promoting the feature as its next step in social gaming on its official site. Now, as Nintendo prepares to launch the Switch 2 as its next-gen handheld console, it's time to take StreetPass off the cutting room floor.

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Nintendo's StreetPass feature was a unique selling point

While the Wii was Nintendo's best-selling console before the Switch arrived, the Wii U successor failed to achieve the same success, which is why the company focused on the DS consoles and their longer lifespan. From the original 3DS console to its New 3DS and 2DS XL versions, for nearly a decade Nintendo seemed to prioritize the handheld gaming market while its competitors focused on home entertainment. As a result, encouraging players to go out and use their consoles using StreetPass helped Nintendo sell the 3DS family's unique portability and social gaming aspects.

But beyond the functionality of StreetPass to share data with its nearby and exclusive players StreetPass Mii Plaza content, other 3DS games benefited from the StreetPass feature by adding new layers to their gameplay. For example, Animal Crossing: A New Leaf Houses shared with players passing through StreetPass, players can earn poke miles from any trainer they meet using StreetPass. Pokemon X and Yand Fire sign: Awakening Can send armies to another player's game via StreetPass to fight, recruit or trade. Ultimately, this means that while 3DS games can be played solo, StreetPass takes advantage of the console's portability for an enhanced multiplayer experience.

Discontinuing StreetPass from the Nintendo Switch was a mistake

Given that Nintendo's next-gen consoles are a mix of home and handheld games, it was only natural that the StreetPass 3DS functionality would be ported over to the new Switch. However, even though it marketed the Switch as a portable console with features encouraging social gameplay, such as two Joy-Cons acting as individual controllers, Nintendo didn't use its StreetPass technology. While this decision may be due to Nintendo's desire to move beyond the 3DS and focus on new concepts for the Switch, the Switch family is still a missed opportunity.

Nintendo Switch 2 can still save StreetPass

The unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 confirms the new Joy-Con functionality

After the unveiling of the Switch 2 and the upcoming Nintendo Direct that could potentially reveal more information about the company's next console, there's still hope that the StreetPass feature could be revived. While Nintendo may continue to improve the Switch's hardware like it did with its OLED model, other ways to improve the Switch 2 is to refocus on social gameplay. For example, exactly as a 3DS exclusive Mario Kart 7 Used StreetPass to share player data and ghost races mario kart The game seen in the Switch 2 trailer could have similar features by adapting the StreetPass functionality for the new console.

Nintendo Switch 2 cover page tag

Nintendo Switch 2

Brand name

nintendo

Original publication date

00-00-2025

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