Nintendo Switch development

Due to Nintendo licensing restrictions access to Defold versions with support for the Nintendo Switch platform is not included in the standard version of Defold. In order to get access to versions of Defold with Nintendo Switch support you need to become an approved game developer for Nintendo Switch.

Registering as a Nintendo Switch developer

You can register as a game developer for Nintendo Switch at the Nintendo Developer Portal:

When you have been approved by Nintendo you will get access to the Tools and Middleware page of the Nintendo Developer Portal where you can sign up for Defold access. When you register for Defold access we will get an email from Nintendo verifying you as a registered Nintendo developer.

Nintendo Switch access in Defold

Once we have confirmed your status as an approved Nintendo Switch developer we offer two tiers of Nintendo Switch access in Defold:

1. Standard access - Nintendo Switch extension, build tools and support.
2. Source code access - Nintendo Switch extension, build tools and support AND source code access to the Nintendo Switch specific parts of the Defold engine.

Standard access

Access to versions of Defold with Nintendo Switch support is provided free of charge to all developers approved by Nintendo. As an approved developer we will provide you with access to:

• Extension with Nintendo Switch specific API integrations.
• Command line tool with support for bundling to the Nintendo Switch platform.
• Forum where you are able to get Nintendo Switch specific support.

Source code access

Source code access is only provided to approved developer with an active monthly community donation for an amount which gives you source code access.

FAQ

Q: Why is console source code access not free?

A: One of the objectives of the Defold Foundation is to make sure that the Defold software is available to developers world-wide and that the source code is available free of charge. The Defold Foundation will never compromise on this objective, but in this case access to the PlayStation®4 and Nintendo Switch SDK, tools and resources is strictly controlled by Sony and Nintendo. This means that the source code for the console platform implementations in Defold, including the editor and command line tools, can not be made available. This also means that the Defold Foundation is unable to receive community contributions to the code and documentation and it is the foundation which must provide all of the support and updates to the platform for as long as it is required to. The console source code access fee will help ensure that the foundation has the resources necessary to support the platform.

Q: Do I need to install additional tools to build for consoles?

A: You will be able to create application bundles from the command line tools. Information about how to test on PlayStation®4 and Nintendo Switch hardware will be provided to you when you are given access to the respective platforms.

Q: Is it still easy to use a single code base if I decide to also target consoles?

A: Yes, all of the standard Defold API functions are available also for the console platforms. In addition to the standard functionality you will also have access to a couple of PlayStation®4 and Nintendo Switch specific functions, but in general the code should be able to remain exactly the same across multiple platforms.