Every Streaming App You Can Download On Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is not just for gaming. Like many electronic devices that have dedicated online marketplaces for apps to download, you can install streaming services on the Switch, making it possible to watch video content via the console in the same way you would with a dedicated streaming device like the Fire TV Stick. So if you happen to be taking a break between games and would like to catch up on your shows, you can do so by installing and accessing streaming apps right on Nintendo's user interface.

While there are a few streaming options available for you to try on your video gaming system, there are several notable services that are still missing from the Nintendo eShop. Although early adopters of the video-gaming platform were assured that the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video "will come to the Switch in time," it's now seven years later, and only one of those aforementioned apps — which we highlight in this roundup — was able to solidify a deal with Nintendo. As well, some platforms that were previously available on the Switch are no longer supported. If you own a Nintendo Switch and are wondering what streaming options you have on your console, the answer is probably disappointing: you have three services left to choose from.

Crunchyroll is highly regarded as the ultimate streaming service for anime aficionados. The platform carries more than 1,000 anime shows and movies, all of which are either subtitled, dubbed, or both. To stream content on the Nintendo Switch without any ads or preview new episodes the same day they come out in Japan, you will need to avail of one of the premium plans, with the basic one priced at $7.99 per month (there's a 14-day free trial).

Funimation, another popular anime portal with content now available through Crunchyroll, used to have a dedicated app on the Nintendo platform. However, because of the merger between the two streamers and their effort to unify their separate slates of features, it was announced that Funimation would officially cease its services, with both the app and website set to go offline on April 2, 2024. Users with active Funimation subscriptions at that time would automatically be ported over to Crunchyroll.

It's reasonable to ask whether other streaming services will be made available on the Switch, but the answer is likely to disappoint you: it's highly unlikely. To date, Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney Plus still don't have dedicated Nintendo Switch apps and can only be accessed through the risky method of jailbreaking. Furthermore, streaming services like Twitch and Pokemon TV — which were previously available through the Nintendo eShop like Funimation — have now ended their support for the video game platform. Those who've previously downloaded the Pokemon TV app had until March 24, 2024, to watch available content before it stopped working. Meanwhile, Twitch users have been barred from accessing the platform on the gaming console since it officially shuttered on January 31, 2024.

As for the Nintendo Switch itself, given the fact that it's been seven years since its original release and the next iteration is reportedly expected sometime this year, it doesn't make sense for Nintendo to make an effort to get newer streaming apps launched on its aging console. Realistically speaking, now that most TVs on the market offer smart features and the ability to access streaming services directly, viewing TV shows and movies through the Switch is the inferior option, considering its mediocre 1080p output. In addition, there are mobile devices that are far better than the Switch that you can use to access your favorite streaming platforms on the road, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.