Niconico is preparing to say goodbye to Nintendo Switch, and the video-sharing service has no plans to make the jump to Nintendo Switch 2. Dwango has announced that the existing Nintendo Switch app will shut down on March 31, 2027, bringing its nearly decade-long run on the platform to an end. The company also confirmed that a Nintendo Switch 2 version is not in development, citing its service development policies and various requirements for the new platform. <Cite refs={[“turn547869search0″,”turn547869search2”]}/>
The shutdown will happen in stages, with new downloads of the Nintendo Switch app ending on February 28, 2027, ahead of the complete service closure the following month. Once the shutdown takes effect, launching the app will display an end-of-service screen.
For those unfamiliar with Niconico, the Japanese video-sharing platform is known for allowing viewers to post comments that scroll directly across videos, creating a shared viewing experience. Its Nintendo Switch app brought that feature to Nintendo’s hybrid console, letting users watch videos while enjoying one of the service’s defining features on a television or in handheld mode.
Although the announcement marks the end of Niconico on Nintendo hardware, users won’t lose access to their accounts or saved playlists as a result of the shutdown. The service will remain available through its web versions and dedicated iOS and Android apps, giving existing users alternative ways to continue watching content.
Dwango is also planning a thank-you campaign for Nintendo Switch users, including a feature that lets eligible users look back on their Niconico history through the console and the distribution of a special achievement to qualifying accounts.
With no Nintendo Switch 2 version planned, Niconico joins the list of video and entertainment services that won’t be making the transition to Nintendo’s newer hardware. For longtime users, the bigger change is the loss of an app that has been part of the original Switch experience since 2017, rather than simply missing out on a new version.