Why Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft dropped X
In a surprising move, all three major video game console companies have decided to remove their integrations with Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Nintendo recently announced that gamers would no longer be able to post directly to X via the Nintendo Switch gaming console. This decision follows similar announcements made by Microsoft last year and Sony in November.
Nintendo provided more details about what exactly will be removed from Switch in a post on its website. Gamers will no longer be able to use the feature that allows the posting of screenshots and videos to X from the Album in the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu. Additionally, sending friend requests to social media users via the Friend Suggestions menu will also be removed. Game-specific changes include the inability to post to X in Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 via the mailbox option seen in hub worlds like Inkopolis Square.
The reasons behind this decision have not been explicitly stated by Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft. However, it is worth noting that Microsoft was the first company to drop X integration shortly after Elon Musk introduced a new paid model for its API. The new API plans are significantly expensive, with Enterprise access starting at $42,000 per month. Given the large user bases of these gaming consoles, their API usage would likely result in monthly bills amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
By removing X integration, these gaming companies will save a significant amount of money without facing much backlash. On the other hand, X is the biggest loser in this situation as it loses major video game partners and their hundreds of millions of users who were sending free content to X from their gaming consoles.
It’s clear that the exorbitant pricing of X’s new API plans played a major role in the decisions made by Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. While these integrations were undoubtedly convenient for gamers, the cost implications were simply too high for the gaming companies. This move highlights the increasingly complex relationship between social media platforms and other industries, as companies must carefully evaluate the financial viability of such integrations.
However, it’s worth noting that gamers will still have the ability to post screenshots and videos from the Nintendo Switch directly to Facebook, at least for now. It remains to be seen whether this feature will also be removed in the future. In the meantime, Nintendo users can still share their media to X by saving it to the Album in the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu and then transferring the data wirelessly to a smart device or connecting their Switch to a PC via USB cable.
Overall, this decision marks a significant shift in the gaming industry’s relationship with social media platforms. As technology continues to advance, companies must navigate the fine line between providing convenient features for users and managing the financial implications of these integrations.
