The Nintendo Switch Online mobile app is now available on iOS and Android. Although Nintendo previously dated the service for July 21, the company hit the trigger a bit early, so Switch owners can download it now.
There’s not much to do with the app quite yet, though. Splatoon 2 will be the first game to fully support the app when it launches this Friday; players will be able to set up private lobbies and use the application’s voice chat feature with a special Splatoon hub.
The other thing to be aware of is that, at least on our end, Nintendo is still working to stabilize the app’s servers. This extra maintenance time is probably a good thing (remember Pokémon Go’s launch?), but it may leave you unable to log in for awhile.
Once that’s all good to go, Switch owners can log in with the Nintendo Account associated with their console. (In fact, the app says a Nintendo Account “must be linked to a Nintendo Switch console” in order to work.) Then they’ll finally get to experience what it’s like to use proper online features on their new Nintendo system, at least in part.