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[Skittzo0413]

People have been discussing the infamous "Switch app" quite a bit over the past few days, and it's strange to me that so few people have actually gone to Nintendo's website for some clarification:

This image shows, among other things, that there are friends list (managing, adding) functions built into the Switch's online system. Some people may say, "well, this could be part of the app!". I'll draw your attention to two of the other lines on this page-

"Online Lobby & Voice chat app"
"Access to Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app"

The fact that these lines are separate from the friends line clearly indicates that the friends functionality is not dependent on the app. If that's not enough to convince you, access to the app is part of the paid subscription program, while the friends management is not.

There are plenty of other inferences to be made from this list too, but I've seen so many people assume there will be no friends list on the Switch that I had to point this out. Discuss!


EDIT: I'm not pointing this out as a positive or negative thing, but to clarify the information that has already been put out there. It's frustrating to see so many people reading certain statements and making blanket assumptions without reading the full information that has been presented. And yes, Nintendo desperately needs to do an OS/UI/Online Direct before launch, as this is unabashedly a mess of communication.

EDIT2: Image updated courtesy of Jonneh3003

EDIT3:

Ok, this is what the website page actually says: no interpretations, presenting it as unbiased as possible. If anyone has something else, like interviews and what not, feel free to post them; they're going to be added to this post.

This is the brief description at the start of the page

This service lets Nintendo Switch owners enjoy online multiplayer gaming as well as a dedicated smartphone app that connects to your Nintendo Switch system and helps you connect with friends for online play sessions.

Check back for more details on the service and its features after the Nintendo Switch system launches.

This is how the App is described

Online lobby and voice chat

Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games─all from your smart device.

A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017.

This is the graph in the OP, showing the differencies between non subscribers and subscribers

UPDATE: Once again, Nintendo's official website confirms friend management is on the console itself:

From the HOME Menu, you can start games and select game settings. In addition to managing friends and user accounts, you can also change your system settings here.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Will they be doing a system and UI direct before launch?

 

[protomouse]

They desperately need to do an "OS and Services Direct".

We know about the hardware.
We know about some of the games.
Everything else is hazy as fuck.

 

[LordKano]

Will they be doing a system and UI direct before launch?

They said they'll "talk about it before launch".

 

[Son of a Witch]

Well, it's still kind of useless if you have to manage lobbies and voice through the app.

 

[Toxi]

Also, you can turn on your console without the phone app. That's pretty amazing!

 

[bomblord1]

Can't wait for the OS focused direct

 

[Jonneh3003]

We really need a system direct to make everything clear but I think this heavily implies we won't need the app to view our friends list. Perhaps the app is only for voice chat and little more?

 

[GameCenterXDS]

Will they be doing a system and UI direct before launch?

What does it matter?you either already payed for a system or you are not getting one and you will find out all you need to by the people who preordered. You won't be able to decide the day it's out.

 

[notaskwid]

No it doesn't.

 

[LordOcidax]

We really need a system direct to make everything clear but I think this heavily implies we won't need the app to view our friends list.

Agree, maybe another Direct in a few weeks.

 

[Krakatoa]

No it doesn't.

I agree it doesn't say its built into the switch OS.

 

[Jonneh3003]

What does it matter?you either already payed for a system or you are not getting one and you will find out all you need to by the people who preordered. You won't be able to decide the day it's out.

This is crazy logic.

 

[Isomac]

You could just have access to app as free user with basic features.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Wowee, this really makes me feel better about needing the app for voice chat and matchmaking. Thank goodness Nintendo (might have) deigned to allow me to register friends on my console.

Elegant.

Innovative.

Game-changing.

Spoiler

Really that just sounds to me like you can use the basic/free parts of the app for this stuff.

 

[qko]

Everyone is talking about the app being "paid" as if you have to buy it off the App Store for $4.99 in addition to the monthyly/annual subscription. That part is not true. The app will be free, but certain services closed off for subscribers.

 

[Darryl M R]

What does it matter?you either already payed for a system or you are not getting one and you will find out all you need to by the people who preordered. You won't be able to decide the day it's out.

lol what?

 

[Maddness]

That could just mean I can do that via my pc on a Nintendo Account website like I can with PSN or XBL. Doesn't mean the console either. It's all very confusing.

 

[ReubyJuice]

I'm still not sure this changes much - so you can add and delete friends on your Switch, but you still can't party up with them for a game without the app?

 

[BahamutPT]

No, it doesn't indicate that. It just says that both paying and non-paying users can access that.
Several functionalities of the app DO NOT require subscription.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

This doesn't indicate anything different from what we have come to understand thus far.

 

[Jonneh3003]

You could just have access to app as free user with basic features.

Why would it only specify that parental controls are an app? The only other mention of an app is "online lobby and voice chat app".

 

[Skittzo0413]

No it doesn't.

I agree it doesn't say its built into the switch OS.

Explain to me how the friends list which can be accessed and used for free could possibly be built into the app which is only part of the paid subscription?

 

[metalslimer]

Who cares if you have a friend's list if you can't do anything with it?

 

[CrimsonSquall]

No praise to a company that's playing catchup to something done over 10yrs ago

 

[Baroquemantic]

That's just a free feature of the online service. It could still be handled exclusively through the app.

 

[Istaerion]

They have already implied that the phone app will require a subscription, but that they're also working on a free, limited version of it.

So, the website really doesn't change anything from what we already know... which is not much.

 

[Ushojax]

I don't think that's what the chart is saying, not necessarily. I thought "Non-Subscribers" were people who are using the pared-down version of the online app rather than the paid version.

 

[BahamutPT]

Explain to me how the friends list which can be accessed and used for free could possibly be built into the app which is only part of the paid subscription?

Because it's not. They clearly state the app is free with limited functionality.

 

[hiim_haz]

I agree it doesn't say its built into the switch OS.

Why would they use match making on the app only? And no, it's not 'because it's Nintendo', it makes 0 sense to have match making done only from the app; especially since they had that stuff on the systems themselves in past generations.

 

[Interfectum]

1) It doesn't indicate it's 'built-in' to the Switch OS

2) Barely anyone was talking about friend's list management. The controversial part is voice chat being relegated to the app only.

 

[Cow Goes Moo]

I'll wait for confirmation before reacting

 

[Spinluck]

The brief glimpses of the UI that I've seen doesn't show any kind of Friends icon or anything of the like.

Obviously it's probably incomplete. But this isn't a direct confirmation that this is built in.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Explain to me how the friends list which can be accessed and used for free could possibly be built into the app which is only part of the paid subscription?

Internet browsers and web pages exist.

 

[eggandI]

It doesn't indicate that.

 

[SalvaPot]

Well, it's still kind of useless if you have to manage lobbies and voice through the app.

Lobbies could easily mean as an option.

Voice chat its the only one its pretty much confirmed requires the app.

 

[flkraven]

Clear as mud

 

[i HeaR MusiC]

Can't we just wait until they clarify all of this, officially?

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Explain to me how the friends list which can be accessed and used for free could possibly be built into the app which is only part of the paid subscription?

Because there's a free, limited version of the app.

Don't whine about people not reading the website if you didn't either.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Internet browsers and web pages exist.

Not according to other people in this forum that think there won't even be an internet browser actually.

 

[GameCenterXDS]

lol what?

Just saying don't bother stressing over "I need a direct to clear this up"unless you already have a pre-order and your debating canceling. If you don't have a pre-order just sit back and see what happens and what exactly is there and then decide. You have to have already decided you wanted it to have one on March

 

[Somnid]

Well the nicalis UI screenshot shows something that looks a hell of a lot like messaging.

 

[Jonneh3003]

OP has a really solid point, there is no mention of needing an app to interact with your friends. Parental controls and voice chat/online lobby are the only elements that mention needing the app.

 

[PreyingShark]

We really need a system direct to make everything clear but I think this heavily implies we won't need the app to view our friends list. Perhaps the app is only for voice chat and little more?

It's probably for what the site says it's for:

Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games─all from your smart device.

These are all things you can do on other consoles but not the Wii U. There's nothing there that indicates that basic functionality like just playing online with both randoms and friends requires an app.

 

[Vena]

Because there's a free, limited version of the app.

That bullet list rather clearly distinguishes what is an app... and what isn't. So this logic is weird to me.

 

[Krakatoa]

Why would they use match making on the app only? And no, it's not 'because it's Nintendo', it makes 0 sense to have match making done only from the app; especially since they had that stuff on the systems themselves in past generations.

I know, I'm just sayin its not clearly stating that's its running on the switch itself. Don't blame me, Blame Nintendo for their muddiness.

 

[notaskwid]

Explain to me how the friends list which can be accessed and used for free could possibly be built into the app which is only part of the paid subscription?

There will be a free version of the app.
I'm still not convinced you can invite someone using the console without the app.

 

[TS-08]

Because it's not. They clearly state the app is free with limited functionality.

That's just for the summer. And anything that is part of an app is described as such. Still doesn't definitively prove what OP is inferring but my hunch is he's right.

Although I guess the web site doesn't make that clear, the idea that the limited app is permanent doesn't make much sense in the context of the chart.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

Well the nicalis UI screenshot shows something that looks a hell of a lot like messaging.

News. Not messaging.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Not according to other people in this forum that think there won't even be an internet browser actually.

Well I meant in general. I'd assume accessing your account through a regular PC is possible.

Sad that I have to question that in 2017, though.