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A Redditor has discovered that Nintendo has been repeatedly opting users back into data gathering via Google Analytics through its Nintendo Switch software updates. All three modern home consoles and many AAA video games have online components that ask users if it’s OK to send data back to the mothership for analysis to better the user experience. The harm this data does is debatable, and it comes alongside several improvements to the console’s screenshot capabilities, but there are many who would prefer that not a shred of it leave the home. Unfortunately, that has proven harder and harder to pull off as the years have gone on.
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Matters of online privacy often haven’t been much of a problem for gamers who stick with Nintendo, mainly because Nintendo’s online offerings have always lagged behind other platforms. While the company started offering networked gaming alongside the Xbox and PlayStation 2 on the GameCube, that console’s network adapter was used in a grand total of five games across the world and a handful more that supported local LAN play. The Wii and Wii U offered digital games and online play, but it still didn’t feel like a Nintendo console had an overarching online service until the Switch arrived. Naturally, when that kind of service does arrive, data gathering is not far behind.
User coors_girth on Reddit made the discovery that Nintendo had switched data gathering back on to default in its 11.0 update. This is the second time the Internet has noticed this change, with the first occurrence happening last month on the same board. Those that switched the feature off the first time around are finding that Nintendo has opted them back into the data gathering against their own preference. However, it’s not happening everywhere, and with very good reason.
Commenters on the post from both Europe and Australia are stating that they don’t see the option to opt out of data sharing, and that might be because Nintendo isn’t allowed to harvest it in the first place. Laws in those regions of the world forbid the type of data sharing where companies can opt in without prior notice, similar to how many websites ask users about cookies in modern times. California also has laws in the books against this sort of thing, which could prove to be an issue if Nintendo is set on changing this setting for its users whenever a new update goes out. For now, users who want to keep their Google Analytics profile as empty as possible will have to keep checking back in on a frequent basis.
It may seem uncharacteristic of Nintendo to act like a draconian corporation in matters of user privacy, especially since it’s the company that warns of the dangers of online gaming to this day. However, with this occurrence, the recent habit of shutting down the Smash Brothers community, and the new strategy of removing games from sale after a set period of time, the gaming world may be seeing a new Nintendo without the rose-tinted glasses that have insulated it from criticism for so long.
Source: coors_girth/Reddit
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