In an effort to ease the social experience on its new console, Nintendo has announced that friend codes are still part of the Nintendo Switch 2 ecosystem, but with an exciting twist! A recent interview with Bill Trinen, Nintendo's Vice President of Player and Product Experience, revealed that adding friends will be significantly simpler compared to its predecessor, the Switch 1.

While the core concept of the friends list remains unchanged, allowing for a smooth transition of your friend data from Switch 1 to Switch 2, the cumbersome process of entering a long string of friend codes for each new connection is now optional. Instead, players can add friends by scanning QR codes through the Nintendo Switch Online mobile application. This modern approach caters to the practical needs of gamers, making it more user-friendly than ever before.

Moreover, Nintendo has introduced a fun new feature — you can attach personalized notes to each friend. This nifty addition can help players remember their friends, especially if they frequently change usernames.

Trinen highlighted that these enhancements are vital for integrating with “GameChat,” Nintendo's latest voice and video chat application that mirrors features found in platforms like Discord. Notably, GameChat is designed exclusively for friends and includes a dedicated C button on the right Joy-Con for easy access. Trinen emphasized that the goal is to replicate a face-to-face conversation experience, which he believes is crucial for social interactions during gaming sessions.

However, it's important to note that while Switch 2 introduces some streamlined features, it does not drastically change the way players add friends. Users will still need to share their QR codes or friend codes via other means outside the console. As gaming continues to evolve, many fans are left wondering if the next generation of the Switch will finally simplify this process, as other social platforms have done.

Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for launch in June, and while it may not revolutionize the friend-adding experience entirely, it marks a step towards modernizing social features in gaming. Make sure you're ready to connect with friends in the new era of Nintendo!