The Nintendo Switch takes another step toward being a true home media center today. Teased earlier this week and confirmed by the company itself, Hulu is now available on the Nintendo eShop for download.
This is hopefully the first of many streaming and premium content apps to come to the system, especially since Nintendo already provided several options on their previous consoles. The Wii had Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix, while the WiiU added YouTube and the anime-centric Crunchyroll. Game consoles have had to provide options to watch video ever since the PlayStation 2 integrated a DVD player, and the Switch will inevitably be compared to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in terms of features.
As many might suspect given their previous track record, Nintendo have been upfront regarding their focus on quality of gameplay over secondary features. Soon after the release of the Switch, Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime talked with the Washington Post to address those concerns, stating, “What I would say is this: We built the Nintendo Switch to be a world-class gaming device, meaning we want you first and foremost to play games on the system and have an incredibly fun experience.”
He did note that the company is “talking to a range of companies about other services, companies like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon — things that will come in time.” However, he made sure to finish by asserting that “these are not differentiators. What differentiates us is the way you play with the Nintendo Switch and what you can play. And that will continue to be our focus into the future as we continue driving this platform.”
Not a surprising response, but considering the lights-out quality of many of the system’s titles from Breath of the Wild to Mario Odyssey to Overcooked, it’s hard to fault them. A decent suite of streaming options is no doubt on its way to the Switch, starting with Hulu. In the meantime, enjoy the games.