The Switch 2’s software might seem familiar to those with a Switch 1, but it’s missing some key third-party apps. Most notable is YouTube, which Google has confirmed is coming “soon.”

“We’re working with Nintendo to make YouTube available on the Switch 2 soon,” the YouTube team tweeted this weekend.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The app’s exact status is unclear. However, the wording on Google’s statement suggests the company has submitted YouTube for Switch 2 to Nintendo.

After submission, apps and games need to be approved by Nintendo before they appear on the company’s eShop platform for users to download. That process can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks, according to developers for Nintendo platforms. With an ongoing launch and lots of software in the works, it’s a busy time for Nintendo. The original Switch launched in March 2017, but it didn’t get access to YouTube until November 2018. 

Interestingly, Hulu (which launched on the original Switch in 2017) and anime streaming app Crunchyroll are both missing from the Switch 2, and are noted on Nintendo’s website as being “software that cannot be used” on the console. We asked both streamers for clarification.

Other apps listed as incompatible include ABEMA, InkyPen, Niconico, and Nintendo’s own Labo VR kit app. That was an app to turn the original Switch into a pair of simple VR goggles using a cardboard box, but it’s incompatible as the screen is now bigger on the Switch 2.

Unboxing the Nintendo Switch 2

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About James Peckham

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I’ve written tech news for over a decade, and as a Reporter at PCMag, I cover the latest developments across the gadgets and services you use every day. Previously, I worked for Android Police, TechRadar, and more.

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