Getting a new console is an exciting experience for any gamer. With costs that often run upwards of several hundred dollars without games or accessories, it’s also a rather expensive endeavor.
Still, the thrill of discovering the new features and games on a new console drives many to make that investment.
One gamer says they recently bought a Nintendo Switch 2 for $499 only to realize that it’s missing a key feature. You can’t use YouTube on it. In order to enjoy the Switch 2 fully, Mario TV (@mariotv20) says they have to pay $40.
Their TikTok about the experience has 1.2 million views as of this writing.
Fanfare for the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo released the original Switch in 2017. Last week, it dropped the Switch 2.
The company says the Switch 2 retails for between $449.99 and $499.99—the price Mario TV paid. The higher-priced console, per Nintendo, comes with the Mario Kart™ World Bundle.
The second-generation Switch features a bigger, better screen; a powerful Nvidia processor; and magnetic Joy-Cons.
Reviews for the Switch 2 are mostly positive. The Guardian called it “more than good enough” but opined that it’s more of a “modernized and highly refined version of the original console” than an actual second generation.
Eurogamer’s review (sort of) gushed, “I love this console a little bit.”
Great, except one thing
When Mario TV got their Switch 2 home and turned it on, they swiftly realized that you can’t use YouTube on it. Many gamers use YouTube to learn about games and share their experiences with others. There’s a huge gaming community on YouTube.
Mario TV was naturally disappointed. They posted a TikTok captioned “wow” that includes a text overlay that says, “Paid $499 for the Switch 2 and it doesn’t support YouTube? [crying while laughing emoji]”
The video shows the Switch 2’s display, which reads, “Couldn’t start the software. Visit the Nintendo Support website for more information.”
Nintendo’s website acknowledges that you can’t use YouTube on the Switch 2. It says the YouTube app for the original Switch isn’t compatible with the device.
It could be a while before people can use YouTube on the next-gen Switch.
This may be disappointing to some, but there is precedent for the delay. It took a year and a half for them to release a YouTube app for the original Switch.
This time around, the YouTube app is supposed to be coming much sooner. Nintendo and YouTube are already working on it, the Verge reports. They haven’t scheduled a date for its release, however, with YouTube saying only that it’s coming “soon.”
People were disappointed, though not entirely surprised, that the Switch 2 isn’t YouTube-compatible yet.
“It is a small indie developed console,” one joked in a comment on Mario TV’s post, “give ’em time to iron this stuff out.”
Many suggested that this is the risk you take when you buy something right after it launches.
“People are not okay. Nobody should ever buy something when it first comes out,” opined one TikToker. “Always has bugs in the beginning.”
Mario TV did not immediately reply to a TikTok direct message seeking comment.
@mariotv20 Wow ? #nintendo #nintendoswitch2 #gaming ♬ LET ME KNOW on melodica – sanilovesmusic
Nintendo didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry submitted via the contact form on its website.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
