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Has Switch's DRM policy changed anyone's mind about digital on Nintendo platforms?

Nintendo's way behind when it comes to digital games on essentially every front, it's common knowledge. They were slow to offer retail titles digitally, had poorly designed shop interfaces that weren't unified between platforms, have had infrequent sales with generally very weak discounts, and their shops were region locked. But the problem most often cited against them was about DRM, the desire to move game licenses arbitrarily from one hardware unit to another, the long sought-after "proper account system."

Now, if you're wondering whether that kind of thing is finally available on Switch, the short answer is no... but they've made one significant step toward it, or at least a significant improvement for user friendliness. What exactly is that improvement? Well, to answer that, I have to explain what the situation was with systems prior to Switch.

Nintendo has essentially had an "account system" since the launch of the Wii U, and the Nintendo Network ID alongside it. Internally, Nintendo was able to track any eShop purchases made by a given NNID, and this was also available to users, albeit obscurely, through the now defunct Club Nintendo service. The issue was that once an NNID was registered to a given hardware unit (one Wii U and one 3DS at maximum), it was locked to that unit (or more specifically, that unit's serial number). NNIDs could only be moved between hardware units by either a direct hardware-to-hardware full system transfer or through Nintendo customer service. This was obviously inconvenient, and is definitely still among the most restrictive DRM policies in use today. The solution the Switch uses is similar, with one key difference: users can now "deactivate" Switch units for a given account and activate another for that account, without having to go through customer service.

Here's the screen where you can do that, found in a user's eShop settings menu:
zMBRNl9.jpg

This is... a step forward. Giving users this ability allows them to transfer digital game licenses from one hardware unit to another without outside intervention and without needing to have both hardware units in the physical presence of one another. However, many of the old inconveniences remain. If the active hardware unit is made unusable (lost, broken, stolen, etc.) while it's still activated another hardware unit cannot be activated without deactivating the original with the help of customer service. Game licenses cannot be shared between multiple hardware units.

This also means that accounts can exist on multiple Switch units simultaneously, but since only one unit can be active at a time, any digital game licenses tied to an account will not come across from one unit to another unless the unit first used is deactivated. Prior hardware must be deactivated for anything to be downloaded from the eShop at all. These limitations make accounts existing on multiple hardware units essentially meaningless. By the way, keep in mind that the "accounts" referred to here are the newer Nintendo Accounts, not Nintendo Network IDs. NNIDs are exclusively for use with Wii U and 3DS and appear to be defunct going forward, though an NNID can be linked with a Nintendo Account for eShop wallet balance sharing between older and newer platforms.

So, this isn't the "proper account system" we've all wanted, but it does give users an important power that was previously only available to Nintendo internally. It's still a restrictive system compared to Sony and Microsoft's, though it's also the least exploitable. It's not hyper-convenient, but it's a step up from Nintendo's earlier policies.

Now I can finally ask the question in the thread title: has this policy shift changed your mind about buying digitally on Switch as opposed to previous Nintendo platforms? I'm asking this both to get a sense of the response to this change, if there is any, and to try to make this choice for myself, since I'm personally torn. At this point, I only have a single game for the system, and it's a physical copy, but I enjoy the convenience of digital and have gone pretty much exclusively digital on all non-Nintendo platforms in the past few years. I've only ever spent money on a single digital game on a Nintendo platform (I have a soft spot for Rhythm Heaven, what can I say).

Also, region fluidity is great, and if you've gone from not buying digitally on previous Nintendo platforms to buying digitally on Switch because of it feel free to talk about it here. I don't want to downplay the end of region locking, it's just a less overarching issue than the DRM scheme, at least in my view.

It also seems likely that a lot of people don't even know about this change. I certainly didn't until I already had the system in hand, and I was pretty frustrated with Nintendo's lack of communication on this issue and the gaming press' lack of curiosity on it. If anyone reading wasn't aware of this stuff, I hope you found this informative.
 
I've had no issues buying digitally since the Wii U days, or hell, even the Wii days. All of my downloads have been linked to my account, and that's really all I care about. I've never lost or had a console stolen, and I've never had a Nintendo console outright break (with the exception of a Gamecube that had a water bottle poured into it) so I'm not too concerned with this.

Obviously other people will have other opinions but as long as a record of my purchases exists I'm perfectly happy buying digital. Storage space on the Switch however is a different problem, though understandable.
 

PantsuJo

Member
The new policies are improvements, definitely.

The only problem is the price of games or, more precisely, the new policies on digital sales.

Digital on Nintendo will be interesting only when we'll see massive discounts times periodically, like PSN/Steam/Live.

Just think about 3DS: I don't think we will never see a fire emblem game priced 9.90 or 14.90€ on eshop, never.

Instead you can find a physical copy of the games priced for 20-25€ with store sales, black Friday, ecc

Plus, you don't have proper subscription goodies: instead of getting full retail games as long as you are subscribed, Nintendo allows you to download virtual console games for one month. That's all.

I understand that the price of the subscription is really low but, guys, we're in 2017: I don't think a service like this is acceptable anymore.
 
I consider digital purchases to be ephemeral anyway—I'm confident they'll work for the next ten years or so but anything beyond that is a crapshoot. This is just as true on the eShop as on PSN or Steam, IMO.

The only exception is truly DRM Free content like the games I buy from GoG. I have those carefully backed up, and I don't anticipate that they'll ever stop working. Everything else is ultimately dependent on an external server I don't control.
 
I've gone all digital, after specifically not going digital with Wii U and 3DS because of the hardware lock. There are some inconveniences that remain, as you've outlined, but I consider them minor. Being able to remotely deactivate without needing customer service would be nice, but the scenarios where I need that are so infrequent that they are edge cases for me.
 

epmode

Member
No. I don't really sell my hardware so being able to deactivate my own console is irrelevant.

I AM concerned about my console breaking or being stolen, and both of those cases still require you to call Nintendo in order to download your own games on replacement hardware. In 2017. Nintendo is REALLY bad at this.

I was looking forward to going 100% digital too.
 

King_Moc

Banned
I've been buying digital games from the US (I'm in the UK) so a little, I guess? They're games I'd have bought from the UK store if they were there though.
 
I can't go 100% digital on Nintendo console unless their account system is as competent as PSN, XBL, iOS or any other modern online service out there. Sure they have made some improvements but it will never be good enough if they can't catch up with competitions. Right now I only buy digital games on Switch for digital-only titles, otherwise I'll stick with physical carts always.
 

JaseC

gave away the keys to the kingdom.
I'm going to cheat and address the question more generally: I'm exclusively digital on PC because, for better or worse, it's a situation that applies to literally everything I play and there's a reasonable guarantee that my games, through official support or otherwise, will remain playable in the future. I mean, I have a modern, Win10-based system and can still play Wolf3D, which released two-and-a-half decades ago. I may have to resort to legally grey means to reacquire games I previously owned, granted, but what I absolutely can't do is, say, play Gran Turismo 1 on my PS4 or the original Voodoo Vince my mate's X1. I'm fine with buying digital exclusives on the eShop/PSN/XBL, don't get me wrong, but that's the extent to which I'll embrace digital on consoles -- that ugly question mark hovering over backwards compatibility is one I simply can't ignore.
 

spekkeh

Banned
No I only really play my own games on my own consoles anyway, so it's a non issue for me from the start. The only reason I'm more inclined to buy digital now is because I no longer want to pull my hair out from having to deal with the slowness of the OS.
 

AmyS

Member
Nope.

I will continue to buy physical versions of games, on all platforms including Switch, whenever possible.
 

NOLA_Gaffer

Banned
I've never really had a problem with buying digital on Nintendo's platforms in the first place.

I do have a problem with digital software in general, regardless of platform, but that's another issue entirely.
 

muteki

Member
The licence only working on one active device and the inability to deactivate a device without it being functional kinda kills it for me.

Though I also still have issues with the whole "digital only" thing that go beyond Nintendo.
 

Jesb

Member
The system is not going to be digital user friendly period with the small space and prices of going higher.
 

ReBurn

Gold Member
The new policies are improvements, definitely.

The only problem is the price of games or, more precisely, the new policies on digital sales.

Digital on Nintendo will be interesting only when we'll see massive discounts times periodically, like PSN/Steam/Live.

Just think about 3DS: I don't think we will never see a fire emblem game priced 9.90 or 14.90€ on eshop, never.

Instead you can find a physical copy of the games priced for 20-25€ with store sales, black Friday, ecc

Plus, you don't have proper subscription goodies: instead of getting full retail games as long as you are subscribed, Nintendo allows you to download virtual console games for one month. That's all.

I understand that the price of the subscription is really low but, guys, we're in 2017: I don't think a service like this is acceptable anymore.

Game pricing is a different issue from DRM, though. Historically Nintendo doesn't discount software too much. Finding physical sales makes sense if it is the retailers who need to move stock to open retail space, but deep digital discounts on Nintendo-published software will probably continue to be rare due to how Nintendo values their IP's.

In terms of DRM, only allowing access on one console is archaic in a proper account system. Switch's portability makes it not as big of a deal since it is easy to move from room to room or place to place if you have a dock in each location. But it would still be nice to be able to have my games on multiple consoles if I want.
 

VillageBC

Member
I'm going to cheat and address the question more generally: I'm exclusively digital on PC because, for better or worse, it's a situation that applies to literally everything I play and there's a reasonable guarantee that my games, through official support or otherwise, will remain playable in the future. I mean, I have a modern, Win10-based system and can still play Wolf3D, which released two-and-a-half decades ago. I may have to resort to legally grey means to reacquire games I previously owned, granted, but what I absolutely can't do is, say, play Gran Turismo 1 on my PS4 or the original Voodoo Vince my mate's X1. I'm fine with buying digital exclusives on the eShop/PSN/XBL, don't get me wrong, but that's the extent to which I'll embrace digital on consoles -- that ugly question mark hovering over backwards compatibility is one I simply can't ignore.

This is generally my approach to digital purchases on consoles/locked hardware.

PC - Seems reasonably safe to assume I will have access to my Steam library going forward. Might be incompatibilities but that I can work around.
Android - Seems like going forward, my stuff is accessable and works.

Consoles - Not so much. I need to maintain old hardware. I can't bypass the console owners if they screw me over. I frankly don't trust Sony/Microsoft not to arbitrarily remove a game, or turn off servers far too early. Nintendo, well they haven't figured out how to do account management for purchases and still rely on hardware so pretty much all retail for them. At least with Sony I will do deep discount/PSN exclusives and things I don't care about losing.
 

Copper

Member
I've been burned before. As nice as digital sounds on the switch I feel more comfortable having the physical versions.

although having region free might entice me to go digital on a few games.
 

BigEmil

Junior Member
I was wondering of final details regarding how Nintendo is handling digital for the Switch and the account systems and the DRM stuff good info thanks OP.

Looks like i still won't be touching digital just physical for me
 

shiyrley

Banned
I only like to buy digital on PC. On consoles I always buy physical except for digital only games, regardless of policies. But at least I feel better about the digital purchases I actually make on Switch (indies and VC basically).
 
I understand that the price of the subscription is really low but, guys, we're in 2017: I don't think a service like this is acceptable anymore.

I think you just answered your own question, it's low price is way better for me than having to pay a lot on the PS4 and receive games that I do not care about (which going by PSN history is a whole lot of them) or will have time playing. Though, I have to agree that having VC games for one month only sucks balls

Note: This policy is still worse than what the Xbox 360 had on November 22, 2005.

In what way?
 

jroc74

Phone reception is more important to me than human rights
I can say that yes, this has changed my mind.

We had a Wii U, a 3DS and 2DS. One 3DS got lost. Got another one, old one was found.

Learned the hard way about being tied to the hardware. After that I swore to never buy any more games digital on a Nintendo platform.

This is a big improvement from Nintendo.
 

Shiggy

Member
As retail is still vastly cheaper, nothing will change for me. Am still buying digital-only games on the service.
 
Nope.

I will continue to buy physical versions of games, on all platforms including Switch, whenever possible.

Exactly. I buy physical whenever possible. I consider digital games to be throwaways. If I lose access to them in the future oh well.
 
No, their sales are still shit.

Also not allowing at least sharing software on 2 switches is still shitty.

I have two vitas that I can both play the same game on, why not two switches.
 

fernoca

Member
In general, all it needs is something as basic as having your downloads/purchase history accessible to the user.

The thing is that across all platforms, unless there are problems with the account people won't know or care about anything else.

People have no problems with PSN...until they do. And their accounts are deactivated, and their purchases locked, then PSN is behind the curve.

Then there are personal issues. Some translates accounts into discounts. So they expect discounts on re-releases because they already own the original.

With Switch, there are improvements over Wii U and is region free, but still has space for more improvements.
 

Vitacat

Member
No way.

Only platform I'm all digital is PC, where you retain a lot of basic consumer rights (i.e. refunds, choice of no DRM, install to multiple devices etc.), and can easily find good sales.

Nintendo, as much as I love them and their games, are still the Stone Age of digital. I only buy digital games for Switch when it's the only choice I have, and I really want the game. Otherwise I'm all physical. Plus, Switch carts are so small and light, it's easy to store and transport them.
 

EDarkness

Member
They don't have to be, but it is a good way to entice people to give away their ownership of games.

I guess I never thought of it that way. If I want to play the game, I buy it. I don't need to game to be severely discounted in order to do so. Though, I generally buy games physical, because I like to let my friends borrow them if they're interested. I never trade them in. If there isn't a physical copy, then I don't mind going digital if it's a game I want to play. Just never understood the need for a game to be 3 or 4 dollars in order to pull the trigger.
 
Until I can download my software on any Switch I please without having to contact Nintendo to deactivate a console if it breaks then no. I'll continue to buy physical.
 

cw_sasuke

If all DLC came tied to $13 figurines, I'd consider all DLC to be free
Pretty much - being able to redownload content without CS was my only real issue with the system. Expect to get most evergreen titles digital on Switch.
Until I can download my software on any Switch I please without having to contact Nintendo to deactivate a console if it breaks then no. I'll continue to buy physical.

Erm...but thats the case now.
 
Thanks to the activate/deactivate option, I am OK with buying digital only games but I'm sticking to physical as much as possible on the switch.

The only reason I would go full digital would be if I could use my games on 2 switches at once like Sony/MS allow, with a family it makes a huge difference in savings.
 

Unai

Member
Erm...but thats the case now.

No, it's not. You need to have the console working properly to deactivate it. So, if it breaks or is stolen you have to call Nintendo. Good luck if you live in a country where Nintendo has no official support.
 
No, it hasn't changed my stance, but my stance is that I just buy digital anyway and did so on Wii U and 3DS (although admittedly, I would always buy on PlayStation instead if the option existed). The day-to-day convenience—especially with Switch, since it's portable—outweighs the small chance of being massively inconvenienced every once in a while.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
In what way?

On November 22nd, 2005 (11.5 years ago), the Xbox 360 had the following DRM:
- Anything you purchase is playable on the console you purchased it on by anyone on that console (n.b. you could also have multiple users signed in to the same game, so separately the Xbox 360's presence and profile system was much more sophisticated then than Nintendo's is now)
- In addition, it is playable on any other console if you sign in and stay connected
- You can sign in to as many consoles as you want by using the account recovery download, feel free to leave your profile at all your friends houses
- Also profiles can be copied to memory cards and brought to other consoles

Now, by the end of the 360 it had a ton of other features and was much better. But that was the state of play at launch day, 11.5 years ago.
 

The End

Member
Still garbage.

We're forced to jump through these hoops because of the hypothetical where a parent buys a switch for each kid and then shares a copy of Pokemon Stars between them.
 

Raw64life

Member
Call me when I have the same or greater amount of consumer rights than I have by staying physical. Until then, never digital. Rights > Convenience.
 

Dremorak

Banned
I didn't realise people expected to be able to buy a game once and play it on multiple switches. I have never used ps4 like that and tbh I'm not sure how many people have multiple of the same console. If you lose it you can get your games and according to a recent article maybe even your saves. Not sure what there is to complain about.
 
I didn't realise people expected to be able to buy a game once and play it on multiple switches. I have never used ps4 like that and tbh I'm not sure how many people have multiple of the same console. If you lose it you can get your games and according to a recent article maybe even your saves. Not sure what there is to complain about.

If you had an iPhone and an iPad would you expect to have to buy it on each device? Most people wouldn't and Apple don't make you.

Nintendo should allow you to use your downloaded software on whatever consoles you want, you bought the licence you should be able to use it on more than 1 system, they can restrict it so that it will only launch on on system at a time so it can't be used on 2 systems at the exact same time.
 
I didn't realise people expected to be able to buy a game once and play it on multiple switches. I have never used ps4 like that and tbh I'm not sure how many people have multiple of the same console. If you lose it you can get your games and according to a recent article maybe even your saves. Not sure what there is to complain about.
I actually do have multiple PS4s (Pro and amateur) that I occasionally use like that, but that aside, the issue is that if you want to replace your primary console, you're also SOL. I don't really think the DRM is defensible in that regard, especially since actual pirates will have no trouble circumventing it, so it'll just end up punishing legit users in the long run.

That said, like I said earlier, I still buy digital because of the convenience of not having to carry more media on a portable console.
 
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