A lot of people have fond memories using the communication app called StreetPass on theirNintendo 3DS. Unfortunately, after traveling around New York City looking for other StreetPass users, one Nintendo fan found no one else using the feature.
One person on Reddit that goes by the name itsmefizzy attempted to find other Nintendo gamers in his area. While the Switch seems to be Nintendo’s main focus (the company recently announcedthe Switch OLED model), StreetPass continues to function for those that want to try and make some new friends. After spending the whole day in the city they failed to find one person to connect with using the feature. They even had no luck at the official Nintendo Store. This caused people on Reddit to start commenting that the feature should now be called “StreetPast.”
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StreetPass launched along with theNintendo 3DSon Jun 13, 2025. This feature exclusive to the handheld console provided gamers with the opportunity to connect with friends. This was achieved through leaving the device in Sleep Mode while passing within a certain range of another user. Nintendo also created Nintendo Zones (areas with Wi-Fi access) which allowed gamers to access StreetPass data from other users that recently traveled through the zone.
Various games on the system took advantage of this new connectivity feature such asStreetPass Mii Plaza. In addition to this game, other popular titles supported the feature as well. Players could collect ghost race data forMario Kart 7, tour other users' homes inAnimal Crossing: New Leaf, and fight others in StreetSmash forSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
The difficulty in finding StreetPass users suggests that the feature’s time has likely come to an end along with Nintendo’s support for other applications on the handheld (the3DS eShop is shutting downsoon as well.) While there are probably people like itsmefizzy that continue to keep their handhelds in their pockets looking for the others to share game data, those people appear few and far between. If gamers can’t find other users in places as densely populated as New York City, the chances of finding someone using it anywhere else are slim.
This news raises the question of whether Nintendo needs to implement a new social feature for gamers to use. While theSwitch doesn’t have an application like StreetPass, many owners of the hybrid console prefer to keep their console docked as opposed to taking it with them while traveling. However, Nintendo has begun to dive into mobile gaming with apps such asPokémon GoandMario Kart Tourthatsupport social features. With this in mind, it’s always possible that Nintendo might surprise fans with something new in the future.
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