Chinese gamers use a Tencent loophole to watch videos on the Nintendo Switch

Gamers use links embedded in the terms of service menu to access a secret browser

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The Nintendo Switch can access Tencent Video via a browser. (Picture: Aiduanfazhenshitai/Bilibili)

Josh Ye

Published: 4:02pm, 18 Dec 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

The internals of the Nintendo Switch might resemble a tablet, but Nintendo doesn’t want you to think of it that way. Without Netflix, Spotify or other common apps (except for YouTube), Nintendo has made it clear that the Nintendo Switch is a gaming device.

This is even more true in China, where YouTube is blocked. So Chinese gamers are using a hidden browser on the device to unlock more functionality on the console.The browser on the Switch, which was released in China earlier this month, is meant to only be used in certain circumstances, like logging into public Wi-Fi.

To find the browser, you need a web portal or a link. On the Chinese Switch, gamers are using links in the terms of service from Nintendo’s Chinese partner Tencent to access the myriad online services that the tech giant offers.

This method allows users to visit various Tencent websites like Tencent Video to watch videos, read comics, read news or even send emails. According to users, all the websites by Tencent and Nintendo are accessible using this browser. Tencent didn’t reply to requests for comment.

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