Nintendo’s new app makes me nostalgic for the Wii

In an sudden transfer, Nintendo has dropped a new Switch Direct digital presentation onto the web, a mere week prematurely of its huge Switch 2 occasion on April 2. Along with showcasing varied first-and-third-party titles focused for launch on the getting older console within the coming months, Nintendo has taken the chance to shadow drop an all-new cell app: Nintendo In the present day!

The brand new Nintendo In the present day! app, which was unveiled by firm veteran Shigeru Miyamoto, is pitched as a one-stop-shop for all issues Nintendo news-related. In some ways, the app seems like a religious successor to the enduring Nintendo Channel from the bygone days of the corporate’s Wii period.

The Nintendo In the present day! app is accessible now for obtain on the Apple App Retailer for iOS and iPadOS units, with an Android-based Google Play Retailer launch anticipated to observe swimsuit. The app is free to make use of, however it does require you to log in by way of a Nintendo Account in the course of the setup course of.

Naturally, I downloaded Nintendo In the present day! as quickly as I acquired wind of its launch, and I’ve since been enjoying round with its varied options and choices. Listed here are the primary promoting factors of Nintendo’s all-new cell information app.

1 Each day Updates

The Wii’s Nintendo Channel reborn

The meat and potatoes of the brand new Nintendo In the present day app is its surfacing of each day updates, information, and different Nintendo-related info. Whenever you first launch the app, you are greeted with the choice to pick out from varied Nintendo franchises that you just’d wish to obtain updates about. At present, this ‘your favourite recreation sequence’ record consists of:

• Tremendous Mario
• The Legend of Zelda
• Animal Crossing
• Splatoon
• Pikmin
• Kirby
• Fireplace Emblem
• Metroid
• WarioWare
• Donkey Kong
• Classics

These choices cowl the vast majority of the preferred first-party and second-party Nintendo mental properties (IPs), however it’s the Classics part that intrigues me essentially the most. Nintendo has a spotty monitor report in terms of providing up entry to its library of retro titles, and so its inclusion right here is likely to be a touch at extra legacy recreation content material within the close to future.

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2 Occasion Schedule + Animated Calendar

Sustain with Nintendo information by way of a themed digital calendar

Change from the primary house tab over to the calendar web page, and also you’re greeted with a big digital date tracker. From right here, you are capable of get a birds-eye view of upcoming Nintendo Directs, that are cleanly organized on display.

There aren’t quite a lot of choices to select from right here — the primary choice is a toggle to change the primary day of the week from Sunday to Monday — however the calendar’s visuals greater than make up for this. By default, there is a charming set of Tremendous Mario-themed iconography and background artwork displayed within the background.

There’s quite a lot of potential right here for additional improvement: I would love for this calendar to sync with my Nintendo Account and show each day Change gameplay statistics, achievements, and extra.

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Different calendar widgets look drab by comparability

I really like house display widget, and, fortunately, the Nintendo In the present day! app launches with day-one help for these mini applets. At present, there are two sizes to select from: a big month-to-month calendar widget, and a smaller content material feed widget.

The previous is described by the system as follows: “get notifications about game-series calendars and schedule notifications,” whereas the latter reads “obtain varied Nintendo-related info day-after-day.” I discover each widgets visually engaging, each providing a way of NIntendo aptitude.

There isn’t any phrase on whether or not the Android model of Nintendo In the present day! will launch with help for widgets, however I would not maintain my breath. As a lot as I would love an official Material You-themed Zelda widget, I would be shocked to see such a factor change into actuality.

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4 Nintendo IP theme packs

Swap out the app’s look to match your private gaming style

The default visible model of the Nintendo In the present day! app is themed across the Tremendous Mario sequence, however Nintendo makes it simple to swap over to a unique design. To take action, observe these steps:

1. Faucet on the profile tab within the backside right-hand nook of the app.
2. Below Settings, faucet on Residence > Design.
3. From right here, you may swipe left or proper to toggle between themes.

The present choice of theme packs embody Tremendous Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and Pikmin. Every one adjustments the app’s total shade palette, background visuals, and accenting. I would like to see further Nintendo IPs make the theming minimize in a future replace — Duck Hunt background sprites, anybody?

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5 The app additionally consists of an sudden Change 2 reveal

Was this an accident?

Nintendo / Pocket-lint

Although the app has loads of nice options, one factor that eagle-eyed customers would possibly discover is that the Change 2 console seems to be slightly completely different on the app. Apparently, as noticed by Wario64 on X, there seems to be an up to date Nintendo Change 2 render inside the Nintendo In the present day! app’s itemizing screenshots. Clearly visibile is the mysterious new ‘C’ button on the suitable Pleasure Con controller, which had been blanked out by the corporate in its Switch 2 first-look trailer.