The online capabilities of the Nintendo Switch have been a hotbed of discussion with gamers since the consoles launch back in March, 2017. With very little known about what to expect from Nintendo’s online feature and the company remaining as tight lipped as ever, lovers of the franchise were starting to wonder would we ever see a fully fledged online service? Well all that changed today when Nintendo shared a bunch of new and exciting details about their upcoming Nintendo Switch Online membership service, launching in September.
The membership, much like Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus, is an affordable, multi-featured paid service that lets users enjoy online play for compatible Nintendo Switch titles. There are a variety of titles to enjoy such as Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, Mario Tennis Aces and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido to name but a few.
Also available to subscribers of the Nintendo Switch Online service will be access to a growing library of classic NES games with added online functionality, back up save data for most games, and additional features for the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app that will enhance the online experience for compatible games. There’s currently no indication if they’ll be making other Nintendo titles from other consoles such as the Wii of N64 available however time will tell.
Some of the other information released was the pricing for the Nintendo Switch Online service. This included a variety of options for players ranging from monthly to yearly subscriptions and even a family pass. The family pass offers up to eight Nintendo Account holders to be able to utilise the Nintendo Switch Online service, even on different consoles, and looks to be quite good value.
- Individual memberships:
- One month (30 days): AU$5.95 / NZ$6.55
- Three months (90 days): AU$11.95 / NZ$13.15
- 12 months (365 days): AU$29.95 / NZ$32.95
- Family membership:
- 12 months (365 days): AU$54.95 / NZ$60.45
It’s clear here that Nintendo are aiming to make an accessible online service for their dedicated player base. With it currently being free to access and play on we’ll wait to see if its affordability and selling points will see current Switch users adopt early to the new Nintendo Switch Online service when it launches in September.
Until then you can head on over to the Nintendo Australia website for the full list of features provided in the upcoming Nintendo Switch Online and more information on which game titles will need an online pass to play.
About the Author
Rachel Humphreys
Rachel (Trance) is a long time gamer full time nerd without a plan... When she's not playing on some manner of console or handheld device she can be found enjoying popculture life to its fullest.
