One of the more reviled features Nintendo has introduced has been the friend code. Nintendo fans universally hate the codes, as they are an extra layer of tedium when connecting with friends online.

In 2017, they make a return again for the Nintendo Switch.

According to Eurogamer, the day one update for the console, which also adds the Nintendo eShop to the system, re-introduces friend codes as the primary way of registering friends to your system.

An image from Eurogamer, showing off the friend code screen.

It should be noted, however, that there are other ways to register friends for the Switch. Nintendo will allow players to register their mobile accounts onto the console for games such as Miitomo and Super Mario Run. You can also search locally after you play with folks online.

The Nintendo Switch will allow unique user ID's for players personal accounts, but until now it was speculated that these accounts would replace the friend code system.

The friend code system has been a staple of Nintendo systems since the Nintendo DS, which allowed players to register a 12-digit friend code to list other players for online games. Nintendo has argued that the friend code system provides increased security for their products, but others have argued the friend code system is outdated and an annoyance, compared to the ease registering friends online through screen names, such as Gamertags on Xbox Live.

The inclusion of friend codes contradicts comments by Nintendo of America's COO Reggie Fils-Aime, who stated in an interview on Cnet that "There are no friend codes within what we're doing."

Quick Take

I hate friend codes, and it baffles me that Nintendo is sticking with this system of security still. With the new Nintendo ID's for the Switch it should be easy to register friends, instead of a chore. This, along with other smaller issues such as no online access at the start, lack of virtual console for the time being, and hard drives possibly being too small if you plan on downloading a heavy amount of games may lead to a lot of issues in the future.

I am still personally gun-ho for the Nintendo Switch, as stuff like this is often a minor annoyance. The problem is these annoyances are slowly building up to make the console less stellar than it could be, a mere day before launch.

We shall see what happens with the Switch early on in the wild, but what are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.