Nintendo Switch Introduces Hulu As Its First Video Streaming App

When the Nintendo Switch was first released in the United States, the tablet/console hybrid didn’t have support for streaming services like Netflix. Now, the Nintendo Switch has quietly added Hulu as its first video streaming app, suggesting that more are probably on their way.

The Hulu app for the Nintendo Switch was spotted on Nintendo’s weekly press release, which details information on new and upcoming games. The announcement of the Hulu app was apparently placed at the end of the press release, according to GameSpot.

The Nintendo Switch Hulu app is now live from the Nintendo Eshop. The Switch version of Hulu looks identical to its Xbox One and PlayStation 4 counterparts. The app supports both ad-based and ad-free subscriptions, and even live TV.

“We are very proud to announce that Hulu is the first US streaming entertainment service to debut on Nintendo Switch,” Hulu’s vice president of product Richard Irving said in his blog post yesterday. “Beginning later today, Hulu subscribers will now be able to use their Nintendo Switch to stream all of their favorite TV whether they’re at home or on the go.”

Although this version of Hulu doesn’t have any new and exciting features, it’s still remarkable, considering that it is the very first video streaming app that’s available on the Nintendo Switch. When the Switch console was first released, many seemed confused why it didn’t support any video streaming apps. Both the Wii and the Wii U had video streaming support for streaming services like Netflix, so its absence on the Switch was somewhat disappointing.

Many saw that the Nintendo Switch was a perfect game console for video streaming services since it’s pretty much like a tablet. However, Nintendo made it clear that its intention with the Switch was to have games be at the forefront of the console.

“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,” Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime told The Washington Post back in March.

“We’re talking to a range of companies about other services, companies like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon — things that will come in time. In our view, 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.”

The Switch console has been in the market for eight months now and has seen tremendous sales. Likewise, the Switch now has a larger library of games than when it was first launched, which clearly reflects Nintendo’s effort of putting games first.

With Hulu now officially available on the Switch, Nintendo appears to be ready to start offering video streaming services. When other services like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube arrive, the Nintendo Switch will not only be a portable gaming console, but also a portable entertainment device.