【Watch Millae: Good Brother Online】

No one rains on Watch Millae: Good Brother OnlineNintendo's parade quite like Nintendo itself.

While the gaming internet raves about how sensational the new Zeldagame is, Nintendo's just-deployed day one update for the Switch -- out March 3 -- exposes a darker truth about the new console. Friend codes are back.

SEE ALSO: This isn't a Nintendo Switch review, but it'll help you decide about buying one

Here to ask the most pressing question of all, Mr. John Stewart....

Via Giphy

Nintendo's 12-digit codes -- which are 14 characters on the Switch, with an "SW" at the front -- are used to sync up with friends online. So where services like PlayStation Network, Steam and Xbox Live employ user-selected nicknames, Nintendo uses a jumble of numbers.

Nintendo Friend Codes have been the butt of many jokes, and for good reason. If someone wants to find me on PlayStation Network or Twitter, I can just say "I'm geminibros." If they want to connect on Xbox Live, I tell them "I'm MrAdamRosenberg."

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

For Nintendo? "Oh yeah, sure. Let me just go get it." At which point I turn on my hardware, squint at the screen, and proceed to rattle off a series of numbers, probably repeating a few as my friend struggles to keep up. Not the most seamless process.

The return of Friend Codes is especially baffling given Nintendo's own comments on the subject. As recently as January, Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime told CNETat the start of the year that they wouldn't be returning.

"There are no Friend Codes within what we're doing," he said.

Fortunately, that's not the only way to connect with your friends on a Switch. Linking the console to your Nintendo Network account pushes friend suggestions your way based on whom you've interacted with in Miitomoand Super Mario Run.

That same feature -- of diving through your past communications and suggesting friends based on that -- will also be coming to social networking services that link with Switch. We already know that Switch profiles can be linked with Facebook and Twitter, though they won't link to the, "suggested friends" feature until a later date, per an email from Nintendo.

There are other options as well. Down the road, Switch users will be able to connect using their Nintendo Network IDs -- the Nintendo equivalent of a PSN ID or Xbox Gamertag. And at launch, you'll be able to add friends if they're on the same local network that you are or if you've played with them recently.

The day one Switch update also activates the console's microSD port for expandable storage and delivers downloadable game purchasing via the freshly launched eShop.

---

Featured Video For You

---

What does the Nintendo Switch mean for esports?

---

Topics Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Switch

• Science
• Tech
• Shopping
• Games
• Entertainment
• Deals
• Social Good
• Life

• Skype is finally shutting down
• Spunky self
• No. 1 best
• MashTalk: Did WikiLeaks just do Apple and Google a huge favor?
• NYT Connections hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve 'Connections' #707.
• How teens are pranking your Facebook News Feeds with random events
• 'Buffy' is the only show that prepared us for the Hellmouth of Tinder
• The Women's Strike fizzled because Americans can't stop working
• The Baffler’s May Day Round Up
• Nature documentarian Sir David Attenborough is now an adorable cartoon

• Elon Musk's SpaceX opens pre
• Alibaba's Ele.me head to step down amid shift to younger leadership · TechNode
• Peking University partners with local AI firm to “reproduce” Sora amid GenAI frenzy · TechNode
• AMD's customized AI chip for Chinese market fails to secure US approval: report · TechNode
• 'Buying London' is getting absolutely slammed. Netflix joined in.
• Plane turbulence is getting worse. Scientists explain why.
• China EV price war continues as BYD launches more cheaper cars · TechNode
• Wow, scientists discovered dwarf giraffes
• 'The Garfield Movie' review: A heist flick with daddy issues
• David Attenborough

• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 12, 2025
• Watch Scarlett Johansson skewer Ivanka Trump in 'SNL' perfume ad
• There's now a 'She persisted' energy bar because this is what we've come to
• Cower in fear at how one monster opens a loaf of bread
• Best iPad deal: Save $132 on Apple iPad (10th Gen)
• Everyone's convinced Sean Spicer's upside
• How NASA found India's long
• Commuters call out 'sexist' ad, brand brings on the extreme sarcasm
• Against Fear
• Frank Ocean has a brand new solo track and – sorry, we just need a minute

• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 12, 2025
• Here's what happens in the 'Kong: Skull Island' post
• No. 1 best
• Radioactive boars have taken over towns abandoned after Fukushima
• Hurricane Laura's impact lingered with nightmarish mosquito swarms
• Word of the Day: Cory Booker explains 'freedom' to Bert
• Mark Zuckerberg and Travis Kalanick laugh it up at 'Babes and Balls' party
• Mark Zuckerberg and Travis Kalanick laugh it up at 'Babes and Balls' party
• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 19: Tips to solve Connections #238
• You can now manage your bank account with emojis