Why do Nintendo accounts use “Friend Codes”, and not usernames?

This is something that has bothered me for some time now. Whenever I’m exchanging contacts with someone for a virtual meetup over PlayStation Network, or even Steam for PC, it’s easy enough to share a username to search for. However, for Nintendo’s consoles such as the Nintendo Switch or Wii, the use of randomly-assigned 12-digit number codes as “Friend Codes” is pretty troublesome in comparison.

So why does the company choose to use such difficult to remember codes, as opposed to allowing a simple “NicKerSoyaCincau” to be used as a username? According to a leaked PowerPoint presentation that has surfaced online, this is because there are certain problems with standard usernames. These include duplicate screen names, while there could also be the possibility of malicious parties trying to “guess” what someone’s username may be.

According to the slide, these issues aren’t in line with two principles that Nintendo has for online gameplay design: “Simple” and “Comfortable”. In a nutshell, these mean that Nintendo wants to remove the “hard to set up” barrier for network gaming, while users should always have the peace of mind when “playing only with friends”.

It’s worth noting that Nintendo has not confirmed the authenticity of the slides, with ResetEra claiming that the leak was first shared on 4Chan. Additionally, the same post explains that the leaked information pertains to the Nintendo Wii, instead of the Switch console. Still, the principle of the matter should still apply for Nintendo Switch users who have to sign up for accounts with Nintendo to utilise the full range of network features available.

I suppose it makes some sense. Having a common username like “Nicholas” would inevitably lead to a tonne of anonymous friend requests from strangers—either by accident or for some other reason. However, while “multiple reentries” are indeed probable when setting up usernames (sorry, this username is in use), I don’t think that would be a deal-breaker for most people.

For now, it appears that Nintendo users will have to continue to exchange random, 12-digit numbers as their unique identifiers on the Nintendo network.

Q: What’s your Friend Code?

A: I can’t remember.

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