Nintendo account sign-ins via Facebook, Twitter will be discontinued

By Cristina Alexander September 20, 2022

The option to sign in to your Nintendo Account through Facebook and Twitter will be discontinued on October 25.

Nintendo announced on Tuesday that users will not able to link their Facebook and Twitter accounts to their Nintendo Accounts, nor be able to create a new Nintendo Account through those social media platforms from that day forward. The company says users won’t be able to participate in My Nintendo Missions that involve linking your Facebook and Twitter accounts to your Nintendo Account to earn My Nintendo Points as a result of the discontinuation of the social media sign-in feature.

Recommended Videos

As of 10/25/2022, it will no longer be possible to sign in to a Nintendo Account using a Facebook or Twitter account. We apologize for any inconvenience.

More info on signing in from 10/25/2022:https://t.co/hxcwFP1O9s

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 20, 2022

Nintendo did offer a few more options for those who still don’t want to sign in to their Nintendo Account through the Nintendo site proper. You can sign in through your Google or Apple account. Beyond that, you must sign in with your Nintendo Account password.

We’ve reached out to Nintendo to ask if the change will affect users’ ability to share screenshots and videos to social platforms from the Nintendo Switch. We will update the story when it responds.

Fans have speculated that Nintendo won’t allow fans to sign in to their Nintendo Accounts through Facebook and Twitter for security reasons. However, Nintendo has not confirmed that the decision to discontinue sign-ins through the social media accounts is a result of security issues that may have come up, nor that it will affect sharing in any way.

Although Nintendo hasn’t given a specific reason as to why it’s taking away the ability for people to sign into their Nintendo Account through Facebook and Twitter, it’s safe to assume that it is hoping to get everyone who owns a Nintendo Switch to have a Nintendo Account and move them into that ecosystem. As far as image sharing goes, Nintendo is discontinuing that feature for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on October 25 as well.

Topics

Cristina Alexander

Gaming/Mobile Writer

Cristina Alexander is a gaming and mobile writer at Digital Trends. She blends fair coverage of games industry topics that…

Gaming

Nearly 160,000 Nintendo accounts compromised in massive hack

8bitdo Lite

Sensitive details of about 160,000 Nintendo Network ID accounts have been compromised since the beginning of April, Nintendo confirmed.

The Japan-based video game company says login ID and password information of these profiles were obtained "illegally by some means other than our service" and in response, it’s freezing the ability to log into a Nintendo account through Nintendo Network ID (NNID).

Gaming

How to enable 2-step verification for a Nintendo Account

Nintendo Switch

Setting up two-step verification on your Nintendo Account is the best way to keep your Nintendo Switch secure. Doing so is a quick and easy process that will keep kids or anyone else from making purchases on your device without permission. Not only does it save you from a potential financial headache, but it will also make sure nobody accesses your account and makes changes to your login information if they stumble upon your username and password.

A Nintendo Account is mandatory to access the Switch eShop and is linked to one's Nintendo Network ID. This is compatible with both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo's mobile games, including Mario Kart Tour and Fire Emblem Heroes. Please note that child accounts, which are for those under the age of 12, and supervised accounts cannot use this feature.

Gaming

Your video game consoles could become much more expensive soon

A PS5 Pro sits on a table with a DualSense.

People have a lot of questions about what a second Donald Trump presidential administration will look like, and one of the big concerns surrounds proposed tariffs on foreign imports, with larger ones targeted for China. If these are passed, it could signal a big change in how video game hardware and software is manufactured and could lead to increased costs for players.

Digital Trends spoke to analysts about the potential impact that tariffs could have on tech like game consoles. As of this writing, the proposal is to implement a 10% or 20% tariff on all imports, but a specific 60% tariff on Chinese imports. Some analysts we reached out to declined to comment on the impact of the tariffs because while Trump has discussed a plan, it hasn't gone into effect and might not. Others, like Serkan Toto of Japanese games industry consulting firm Kantan, warned that consumers could be the ones paying the cost if plans go into effect.