Popular app used by millions to ‘break’ on Nintendo Switch consoles in WEEKS – and people are blaming Elon Musk
A POPULAR app used by millions will soon stop working properly on Nintendo Switch consoles, the gaming company has confirmed.
And a number of affected users seem to think it’s Elon Musk’s fault.
Nintendo’s US branch has announced that X (formerly Twitter) will lose support on Switch consoles in a matter of weeks.
In the early hours of this morning, the company tweeted: “As of June 10, 2024, it will no longer be possible to post screenshots and videos to X (formerly Twitter) from the Nintendo Switch’s Album, or send friend requests to social media users via the Friend Suggestions feature.”
@elonmusk look what you did to one of the most beloved companies in the world. Good job buddy!
X user
Affected services:
According to a new Nintendo help forum, the move will impact the following services:
- The feature for posting screenshots and videos to X from the Album in the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu will become unavailable.
- While posting screenshots and videos to Facebook will continue to be available, this service may also be discontinued at a later date.
- 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, will also become unavailable.
- In-game posting capabilities, such as sending screenshots to X from the mailbox in Splatoon 2 and 3, will no longer be available.
- Data will instead be sent directly to Nintendo servers.
- The feature for sending friend requests to social media friends via the Friend Suggestions menu on My Page, in the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu, will also no longer be available.
- You can continue to use the friend suggestions feature from smart devices, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U.
For more details, check Nintendo’s new X help page here.
Disappointed Switch owners are pointing their fingers at billionaire tech tycoon Musk, who bought the social media platform in 2022 as part of a controversial $44bn takeover.
“@elonmusk look what you did to one of the most beloved companies in the world. Good job buddy!,” one onlooker wrote.
Another tweeted, in reference to Musk’s buyout, added: “Imagine there being a website so popular that game console manufacturers put a dedicated button on their controllers to take and post screenshots and then you f*** the website up so much that they disable it.”
While a third person tweeted: “Elon is the issue with this platform. You overprice APIs and code.”
One of Musk’s most eyebrow-raising decisions at X – beyond changing the app’s name and logo – has been to end free access to its APIs.
An API, short for application programming interface, is what allows two applications to talk to each other.
For example, when you visit a website that requires you to login, and you choose to connect with a Google or Facebook account – an API is facilitating that.
Musk not only put X’s APIs behind a paywall, he made them eyewateringly expensive.
The cheapest package is $42,000 (£33,600) a month.
Higher tiers cost $125,000 (£100,000) and $210,000 (£168,000) a month.
While Nintendo has not announced why it is stopping X support on Switch consoles, fans reckon the lofty cost of the platform’s APIs have priced even Nintendo out of the game.
The Sun has contacted Nintendo for comment.
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