Nintendo Switch Update 18.1.0 Pulls X/Twitter Support, Bringing It In-Line With PlayStation and Xbox – IGN

As Nintendo had announced, it has now pulled X/Twitter support from the Switch via a new firmware update.

Nintendo Switch update 18.1.0, out now, discontinues X/Twitter integration, which means a number of previously available social media sharing options are gone. Elsewhere, our old friend “General system stability” has seen improvements “to enhance the user’s experience.”

The removal of X/Twitter integration from the Switch means all three major video game consoles now lack the sharing functionality they launched with, with Sony and Microsoft going first for PlayStation and Xbox in 2023. The decisions to remove support came after Elon Musk’s social media platform began charging more for business use of its API, the interface used by third-party developers to access Twitter data.

Nintendo didn’t give an explicit reason for the removal of support, but big companies like it, Sony, and Microsoft could be charged around $42,000 a month to uphold integration, according to Wired. It notably continued to support Facebook, however, which does not charge for using its API.

At the time Nintendo announced its plan to pull the integration from Switch, X/Twitter itself responded, insisting it was dedicated to enhancing the gaming community’s experience on the social media platform and that it still has a strong relationship with Nintendo.

“The gaming community is one of the largest and most vibrant communities on our platform, and we are dedicated to enhancing and supporting gaming-related features,” X/Twitter said in its own, now-deleted post.

“Our partnership with Nintendo remains strong, and we are working together to ensure a smooth transition for all users. We will continue collaborating with partners to bring new and exciting experiences to our global gaming community.”

X/Twitter’s API changes arrived in March 2023 and Microsoft disabled Xbox integration in May that year. Sony removed X/Twitter integration from PlayStation in November, though like Nintendo, neither company referenced the API changes as a reason for doing so.

Nintendo Switch update 18.1.0 patch notes:

• The following updates were made for the discontinuation of X (formerly Twitter) integration:
  • The option to “Post to Twitter” when sharing from the Album in the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu was removed.
  • The ability to post Super Smash Bros. Ultimate screenshots from the Album in the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu to Smash World in the Nintendo Switch Online smart device app was removed.
  • The option to link X (formerly Twitter) from “Settings” > “User Settings” > “Posting to Social Media” was removed.
• The option to link social media accounts from “My Page” > “Friend Suggestions” was removed.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.