The Nintendo Switch has always been criticized for its sparse selection of multimedia applications, and that limited library is shrinking even further. Hulu, one of the few dedicated video streaming services available on the hybrid console, is scheduled to shut down next month. Nintendo has already removed the app from the eShop, preventing any new users from downloading the service ahead of its final closure.
The official curtain call for Hulu on the Switch is scheduled for February 5th, according to recent updates posted to Nintendo’s support channels. This marks the end of the line for an app that launched quietly back in November 2017, relatively early in the console’s lifecycle. While the loss is frustrating for users who rely on the Switch as a secondary media player, this move is rooted in Disney’s larger corporate strategy.
Last year, Disney confirmed plans to fully integrate Hulu content directly into the Disney+ platform, effectively unifying their streaming ecosystem. Although consumers will still be able to maintain separate subscriptions for both services once the merger is complete later this year, all viewing of Hulu originals and library content will eventually be funneled through the flagship Disney+ app. For Switch owners, this corporate consolidation unfortunately renders the dedicated standalone Hulu app redundant.