A Rare Streaming App for Switch Is Shutting Down Soon

The Switch is already short on video-streaming options, and next month, it will lose one of its most significant apps. Nintendo has confirmed that the Hulu app has been removed from the eShop, marking a shift for the Disney-owned service. According to Nintendo’s support site, official support for the Hulu app will end on February 5. The app initially launched quietly in November 2017, shortly after the console’s release. It won’t be compatible with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, and a dedicated version for the new console was never developed. Last year, Disney announced plans to fully integrate Hulu into Disney+, merging the two streaming services. While standalone subscriptions for both will still be available after the merger later this year, anyone wanting to access Hulu content will need to do so through the Disney+ app. This poses a challenge for Switch owners, as Disney+ has never been available on Nintendo consoles, skipping support for both the Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. The absence of Disney+ is part of a broader trend, with other major services like Netflix, Prime Video (which supported the Wii U), and HBO Max also missing from the Switch lineup. This is disappointing for Switch users who want to enjoy streaming media on their hybrid consoles. Currently, the only notable streaming apps on the original Switch are YouTube and Crunchyroll, neither of which is available on Switch 2. A Twitch app was previously offered on the Switch but was discontinued in 2023. For now, Nintendo fans can still stream their favorite shows and movies on smart TVs or other consoles they may own.