App Overload? Nintendo’s Mobile Strategy Raises Eyebrows with Four (or More) Separate Apps

Updated: November 09, 2025 02:16

Image Source: The Verge

Nintendo has launched a new Store app for mobile, bringing its total to four standalone apps—five if you count parental controls. While each app serves a distinct purpose, users are questioning the fragmented experience. Critics argue that the company’s “one-function-per-app” approach may be confusing and inefficient for everyday users.

From Power-Ups to Pop-Ups: Nintendo’s App Avalanche Sparks User Frustration

Nintendo’s latest mobile move is raising questions about its digital strategy. With the launch of the new Nintendo Store App on November 5, 2025, the gaming giant now manages four separate mobile apps—each with a distinct function. While the new app allows users to browse and purchase games for the Switch and Switch 2, it also reignites a long-standing debate: Is Nintendo overcomplicating its mobile ecosystem?

Key Highlights and User Reactions:

The Growing App Roster

Nintendo now operates at least four core apps:

Nintendo Switch Online App (for voice chat and game services)

Nintendo Music App (for game soundtracks)

Nintendo Today (news and updates)

Nintendo Store App (for purchases and wishlists)

Add the Switch Parental Controls App, and the count rises to five for some users.

Fragmentation Frustrates Fans

Critics argue that having multiple apps for basic functions creates a cluttered and disjointed user experience.

Users are calling for a unified app that consolidates services under one roof, similar to competitors like PlayStation and Xbox.

New Store App Features

The Store App allows users to browse and buy games, manage wishlists, and view playtime data.

It also supports Switch 2 integration, hinting at Nintendo’s broader digital expansion.

Nintendo’s “Do-It-Differently” DNA

The company has long taken a non-traditional approach to digital services, often prioritizing simplicity and control over consolidation.

While this has worked in some areas, it’s increasingly seen as out of step with modern UX expectations.

What Users Want

Fans are asking for a centralized Nintendo Hub, where all services—store, news, music, parental controls—can be accessed seamlessly.

Some suggest that the current model may deter casual users from engaging with Nintendo’s broader ecosystem.

As Nintendo gears up for the Switch 2 era, its mobile strategy may need a power-up of its own. Whether the company will consolidate or continue to compartmentalize remains to be seen—but the message from users is clear: less may be more.

Sources: Kotaku, AIVAnet, The Verge

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