Netflix and YouTube all-but confirmed for Nintendo Switch at E3

Netflix and YouTube are set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch, according to an product page accidentally leaked by Best Buy.

Rumours of the online video services coming to the Nintendo Switch have circulated since the launch of the console back in March 2017.

Netflix and YouTube are currently available on every other home console, including Sony PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

As it stands, Hulu is the only video on-demand service available on Nintendo Switch.

However, the inclusion of the Netflix and YouTube logos in the Best Buy product page suggests the popular video services could be announced during Nintendo’s keynote presentation at the E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles later today.

Nintendo is expected to use its press conference to announce a slew of new features, apps and games for its Switch console.

According to the Best Buy product page, which has now been altered, the Nintendo Switch will support video streaming from Netflix, Hulu and YouTube 

The update to the Best Buy listing was first spotted by Reddit user DevCakes, who shared a screenshot of the product page on a subreddit dedicated to the Switch.

‘Get access to a world of instant entertainment with this product,’ Best Buy claims.

‘Just connect to the internet and stream movies, listen to music, and access a wide variety of other content.’

The product page then includes the Netflix, Hulu and YouTube logos.

Many Reddit users have taken the product page as confirmation that Nintendo will announce compatibility with the video on-demand services at E3. 

‘If this happens this E3, omg I can travel the end of this month and use my switch for Netflix and YouTube FINALLY!,’ one Reddit user posted.

Another added: ‘man if switch gets download capabilities for netflix that would be incredible.’

‘youtube on switch will make my life 148% better,’ one user joked. 

Nintendo is enjoying phenomenal success with its Switch console, which can be played on a television at home using the bundled dock, or on-to-go using the in-built six-inch touchscreen and detachable Joy Con controllers (pictured above)

Nintendo is enjoying phenomenal success with its Switch console, which can be played on a television at home using the bundled dock, or on-to-go using the in-built six-inch touchscreen and detachable Joy Con controllers (pictured above)

Netflix is already available on a range of video game consoles, including the Xbox One S, Sony PS4, and the Nintendo Wii U – the predecessor to the Switch 

Best Buy has since removed all mention of Netflix and YouTube from its Switch product page – hours before Nintendo is due to kickstart its E3 press conference.

The retailer took to Twitter to explain that it had made ‘an error’ on its product page.

Best Buy tweeted: ‘This is indeed an error on our part and we apologize for any inconveniences. While it has been rumored to be coming, we have no solid information on if and when.’

Nintendo will hold its E3 press conference today, with the keynote scheduled to begin at 9am PT (12pm ET/5pm BST).

The Japanese company is expected to focus heavily on the Nintendo Switch during its presentation, with announcements around new video games, and a paid-for online multiplayer service for the console expected.

The presentation, which will be live-streamed to viewers across the globe, is also tipped to confirm the arrival of Fortnite on the platform.

Fornite, one of the most popular games in the world, appeared in a list of leaked titles scheduled to be announced for the Nintendo Switch at the E3 last month.

Fortnite is coming to the Nintendo Switch, according to a leaked document detailing the titles set to be announced for the console during the E3 video game expo next month

Fortnite is coming to the Nintendo Switch, according to a leaked document detailing the titles set to be announced for the console during the E3 video game expo next month

The blurry photograph of the E3 schedule was shared widely on forum website 4chan.

Nintendo is enjoying phenomenal success with its Switch console, which can be played on a television at home, or on-to-go using the in-built six-inch touchscreen and detachable Joy Con controllers.

The company has forecasted sales of 40 million units by April next year.

For comparison, its predecessor, Nintendo’s Wii U console, only managed to shift 13.56 million units during its lifetime.

HOW DID MOBILE GAMING AND THE SWITCH SAVE NINTENDO?

Nintendo has had a rough few years.

Following disastrous sales of its Wii U console, investors clamoured for the Kyoto-based firm to close down its home console division and focus on smartphone games.

Super Mario Run, the first time one of Nintendo’s iconic video game characters appeared on a device that wasn’t built by the company itself, set download records across the globe when it launched in December 2016.

Super Mario Run topped 40 million downloads just four days – becoming the fastest game to reach the milestone in App Store history, Nintendo revealed at the time.

However, Nintendo shares tumbled after it was revealed only a tiny percentage of players were willing to pay the £9.99 charge to unlock all of the content in the game.

‘Mario is arguably the most popular gaming franchise in the world, yet we see only about 8 percent of those who try the game actually purchasing it,’ Sensor Tower analyst Spencer Gabriel said.

However, Nintendo does not appear to be deterred, with a slate of new mobile games scheduled to launch between now and March 2019.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo is quietly working on a Legend Of Zelda adventure for smartphones and tablets to launch in late 2018, and Nintendo recently confirmed its best-selling racing game – Mario Kart — would be headed to iOS and Android smartphones before early 2019.

Elsewhere, the Kyoto gaming company has seen enormous success with the successor to the Wii U, Nintendo Switch.

The home console, which can be on a television or on-to-go thanks to its in-built six-inch touchscreen and detachable Joy Con controllers, has seen enormous demand.

At its most recent earnings call, Nintendo almost doubled its full-year operating profit forecast.

Sales of the all-new console, which includes its own version of Mario Kart and Legend Of Zelda, have exceeded the company’s estimates and outstripped those of its predecessor, the Wii U.

Nintendo also raised its year-end Switch sales forecast to 14 million consoles from 10 million.

This new annual target would alone exceed lifetime sales of 13.56 million consoles for the Wii U, which was on the market for about five years. 



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