Nintendo Switch Virtual Console and eShop Purchases Will Be Tied To User Accounts, Nintendo Exec Confirms

Between the eShop and the Virtual Console, Nintendo have some of the best digital content on handhelds- it’s just a shame that they make it so hard for most users to enjoy that content, with their regressive, backwards policies when it comes to digital content ownership. Unlike literally everyone else in any industry, Nintendo have chosen to tie purchases to your device instead of your account in the past.

With the Switch, the expectation was that that would change- but Nintendo never actually confirmed that at their event. However, now, speaking in an interview, Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime has laid all speculation to rest. He has explicitly stated that purchases will now be tied to Nintendo accounts.

‘We will be sharing more information at a later date. What I can tell you is that with the introduction of the Nintendo Account, we now have the capability of tying consumer purchases to their particular account. So that opens up a range of executions for us to address that consumer desire and need. So, we hear it, we’re working on it, and more information will come.’

Reggie also confirmed, explicitly, that Switch will have no Friend Codes. ‘There are no friend codes within what we’re doing,’ he said. Of course, Nintendo had already done away with Friend Codes on the Wii U, so this was to be expected.

Nintendo Switch is due to launch worldwide on March 3.