Why This Gaming Expert Can‘t Play Fortnite on Switch (And You Probably Can‘t Either)
As a long-time gamer and content creator focused on the gaming industry, few things are more frustrating than coming up against seemingly arbitrary platform restrictions. I‘ve run into this recently when trying to play Epic Games‘ hit Fortnite Battle Royale mode on my Nintendo Switch.
With over 350 million registered players as of 2022, Fortnite is arguably the most popular game in the world right now. Developed by Epic, it initially launched in 2017 and is available on PC, console platforms like Playstation and Xbox, Android and iOS mobile devices, and Nintendo Switch.
Fortnite‘s cartoonish last-player-standing sandbox gameplay has made it a cultural sensation. And the Switch port offers players the chance to battle for a Victory Royale on the go. Well, for most players at least…
The Not-So-Epic Error Message
When I tried recently to log into Fortnite on my Switch using my longtime Epic account, I was greeted by this extremely unhelpful error:
"This Fortnite account is associated with a platform which does not allow it to operate on Nintendo Switch."
Specific, right? After some digging, I figured out the issue. I had created my Epic account on my Playstation 4. And for some reason, Epic does not allow you to use an Epic account previously associated with Playstation Network (PSN) on the Nintendo platform.
This means that the over 125 million PSN users like myself are basically locked out of playing on the Switch with those accounts.
I tried all the standard troubleshooting steps like force quitting and restarting the game, checking for updates, and verifying internet connection. No dice. Others reporting this issue on Reddit and forums had no luck either.
Why A Platform Restriction Between Two Gaming Giants?
This restriction seems to come directly from Epic Games themselves, not Nintendo. But neither company has officially commented on the reasoning behind blocking Epic accounts between PlayStation and Nintendo platforms.
We can speculate on a few possible explanations:
- Technical limitations – Epic may have built the backend infrastructure for each platform account separately, preventing crossover due to security, compatibility or quality assurance factors.
- Business incentives – As dominant industry players, Epic and console partners like Sony may want to retain exclusivity and tight account integration to their respective platforms.
- Player data – PlayStation may not want to share player activity data tracked through Epic accounts with competing console maker Nintendo.
Industry observers have noted that Xbox Live accounts don‘t face the same limitation for Fortnite. This lends credibility to the business incentive or data protection theories.
Interestingly enough, this isn‘t the first time we‘ve seen platform restrictions on Epic accounts when it comes to cross-play:
| Platform | Previous Cross-Play Restriction | Date Resolved |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox/PS/Switch/Mobile | Could not matchmake cross-platform | Summer 2018 |
| PS4/Xbox/Switch | Blocked playing in same Fortnite lobby | Fall 2018 |
So there is precedent of Fortnite cross-platform restrictions being removed after enough public pressure.
Time For Change?
In recent years, Epic has made efforts to advocate more open cross-platform play between competing console makers and PC stores like Steam. Currently, the PlayStation block specifically affects Xbox and Switch.
As a passionate gamer, I find this situation frustrating. We should be able to access our accounts and progression across all available versions of the game we love.
Both Sony and Nintendo would likely benefit from increased goodwill and sales that open cross-play would drive. And Epic could further consolidate its efforts into unified accounts and growth initiatives.
Cross-play matches accounted for over 93% of Fortnite games tracked in 2022 so far (via GamersRD).
So here‘s my call as a gamer, content creator, and industry observer – lift the restrictions! Players deserve to play using their primary accounts, no matter the platform.
In the meantime, we can vote with our wallets and voices to pressure the major players. I urge gamers impacted by this issue to make yourselves heard, whether it‘s Reddit posts, tweets, support tickets, or otherwise. Together we can spark change!
Workaround Options (For Now)
Until Sony and Epic sort out this limitation, players do have some options to access Fortnite on Switch:
- Create a new Epic account from scratch exclusively for playing on Switch
- Link your Nintendo account instead and forgo having an Epic account
- Play on another available platform where your Epic account can be accessed
I‘ve compiled tips on troubleshooting other potential connectivity issues with Fortnite on Nintendo Switch below as well:
- Ensure the game and system software are fully updated
- Try manually entering DNS settings if connection is timing out
- Re-link accounts in Epic Games launcher if you receive login errors
- For server status alerts or update info, bookmark Epic‘s status page
Here‘s hoping that soon enough, no Fortnite fan has to decide between platforms and profiles just to enjoy their favorite game!
