Nintendo Switch Mobile App Redesign + Friend Connection Implementation

Role:  User researcher/Designer

Duration: 6 weeks

Team: Solo Project

Context

Nintendo is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics and video game company. They have made consoles such as the Wii, Gameboy, and most recently the Switch and Switch lite. 

Nintendo aims their products for anyone 6 + up. Yet this maybe a video game centric company, many people over the age of 20 have expressed enjoyment in their consoles. 

Problem 

As of right now, Nintendo has a mobile app that can be considered bare and not a product that Nintendo users have much of a use for as it only has the function for voice chat and caters to only three games. 

Goal

To create a solution that would make the app more useful to all Nintendo Switch users. 

Process 

Research 

Currently the Nintendo Switch Mobile app is very limiting in what it offers to its users. It offers voice chat for three connecting games only when they are being played as well as some in game features for the same games. Other than that users can report feedback on the app or read other app policies. 

While looking at Nintendo’s app, I looked at its competitors as well. Playstation and Xbox are two other game consoles that are highly used by the pubic. Each has a mobile app as well. Taking in all their features, I compared them below.

From there I talked to other users and looked at reviews. These conversations were done with other Nintendo users. I found that most Nintendo Users either used the app once or twice or hadn’t even know there was a mobile app. 

Analysis

Insights 

1. Enjoyed the voice chat feature but wanted to connect more with other users.

2. Felt that the app was lacking.

3. Wanted to be able to look into the game store from their mobile device.

4. Other competitor apps focused on friends and connection.
   
   

Development of Solutions 

• Connecting with friends: A way to add and communicate with in game friends to the mobile app.

• Shop feature: A way to shop and download games on you mobile device to connect to your Switch.

• News Feature: A way to keep up to date with Nintendo Switch events.

Connecting with Friends 

All of these features deserve to be in the app, I decided to focus mostly on the implementation of a friend/messenger system. This solution would allow for users to feel more connected with friends or the people they meet. It would also give users the ability to share files, games and clips from their own adventures to others and different platforms. 

It would also give incentive to users to continue using the app as well as their games by being able to connect with others. 

Prototyping

I decided to not allow open adding of other individuals, but the user would need an exact username or ID number unique to their switch console. This decision was made due to the young audience. It is vital that there is some securities set in place to protect the younger audience.

I also decided to give the app an overall fresh redesign, I used the same red, but gave it a much more youthful and modern design.

Usability Testing

During the testing process, I had 8 participants who all had prior experience with both the switch console with either some knowledge or experience with the original app as well. During this each participant was tasked with getting to the messenger section and performing the task of sharing a file. There were no issues.

Reflection

Prior to this experience, I had little experience when it came to redesigning an already existing app that already had an eager cliental. I was also able to look at competitor products and the users that engage in them to better explore the needs of the clients that I was trying to solve for. With continuation to this product I would like to go more into depth in the shopping feature as well as to explore more into the idea of quick adding and friendship codes.