It's probably not the integration anyone was expecting, but Fujifilm-owned brand instax has announced the instax mini Link SE, a new mini film printer that's designed for use with the Nintendo Switch. It allows users to print in-game screenshots from the console thanks to a new instax mini Link app that will be available for smartphones soon.
The release of the instax mini Link SE lines up perfectly with the upcoming New Pokémon Snap, both of which are launching on April 30. The long-awaited sequel to the Nintendo 64 game revolved around taking photos of various Pokémon in their natural habitats, and the new game features built-in photo sharing and editing, and the ability to print those photos seems to fit into the nature of the game. It's also a very interesting callback to the original title, when Nintendo partnered with Blockbuster to allow players to print their own pictures from the game. However, the instax Mini SE can be used to print in-game screenshots from any Switch title.
To connect the Switch to the printer, you'll need the accompanying smartphone app, which bridges the gap between the console and the printer using the QR code sharing feature that was added to the console a few months ago. The app itself also features some Nintendo flair, with themes based on titles including the aforementioned New Pokémon Snap, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Super Mario Odyssey. Even if you're just taking regular photos, it will also let you add Nintendo-themed frames to those pictures, with examples being based on the same games. If you want to go even further, a special protective based on Pikachu is also available for the printer.
There are other features for the app and printer that are less Nintendo-themed. You can collaborate with a friend on a collage, each using their own phone, or take a picture with a friend and answer a series of question to have a "match test" displayed on top of the printed image. The instax Mini SE even support motion controls for your smartphone camera, for some reason. You can tilt to zoom in and out and take a picture with the power button, or flip the printer over to reprint pictures.
As mentioned above, the instax mini Link SE is coming next week, on April 30, and it will cost $99.95 or $119.95, if you want it bundled with the Pikachu case.
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