Nintendo on Sunday rolled out a somewhat significant update to its Switch Online app that makes it a lot less rubbish than it was before. The version 2.0.0 release brings a refreshed design and the ability to see which friends are online.
Switch Online, which is required if you want to use voice chat inside some Nintendo Switch games, is still nowhere near as useful as its counterparts for PlayStation and Xbox. But it is at least better than it was.
Nintendo Switch Online is slightly better
Despite the incredible success of the Switch, which continues to easily outsell it competitors five years after its initial release, Nintendo is still painfully behind the likes of Microsoft and Sony when it comes to online services.
Many of the Japanese company’s own games — including Animal Crossing, Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — don’t have voice chat built-in, so you need the Switch Online app to talk to friends during play.
Fortunately, Switch Online for iPhone and iPad is much better (but still not amazing) now. It has been refreshed with a new design that’s easier to navigate, and some handy new features that other consoles have enjoyed for years.
See who’s online and share your friend code
Those include the ability to see which friends are online and to change your own online status. You can also access and copy your Nintendo friend code, which makes it easier to share with friends when you’re away from your Switch.
Nintendo also promises “various other small changes” that should improve the performance and reliability of the app. You can download Switch Online version 2.0.0 from the App Store now.
