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Nintendo Switch Online is the Nintendo Switch online subscription service. Online gameplay was free until the service's launch where it had to be paid through it. It launched on September 18, 2018.
An add-on subscription, Expansion Pack, which includes access to additional games, was released on October 25, 2021.
Contents
Online Gameplay
To play any of the paid games online, Nintendo Switch owners need to be subscribed to the service. Free-to-Play games like Fortnite will not require the subscription.
Phone App
The Nintendo Switch Online's online play is organized through a smart device application released in Summer 2017. The application will let the player invite friends to play online, set appointments and chat with friends during games with compatible games. The compatible games are:
- Splatoon 2 (2017)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
- ARMS (2017)
- Mario Tennis Aces (2018)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
- Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online (2019)
Cloud Saving
Players will be able to get cloud saving for compatible games. The cloud saves will automatically uploaded to cloud services on a regular basis and require no input from the user. Saves can be transferred to other Switches. Leaderboards and other online stats are the only things not included in the cloud saves.
So far, only a limited number of games exclude Cloud Saving including Splatoon 2, Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Exclusive Content
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers get access to the following content exclusively for the service:
- Nintendo Entertainment System Online (more details below)
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System Online (more details below)
- Missions and Rewards (more details below)
- Tetris 99
- Pac-Man 99
- Ability to purchase the Nintendo Entertainment System Joy-Con pair, Super Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo Switch Controller, Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch controller and Sega Genesis Nintendo Switch Controller.
- Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers
Online Game Library
Subscribers would gain access to a vast amount of games online from Nintendo's past systems including those of the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. These collections of games does not cycle out games and subscribers can play as many games as they want from this selection. The games support online multiplayer including an option for a second player to watch and give hints via a cursor. All games are displayed at a higher resolution and are always displayed at a 4:3 aspect ratio. Apps are downloaded freely from the Nintendo Switch's eShop.
Nintendo Entertainment System
Games from the Nintendo Entertainment System library. As of March 30, 2022, there are 61 unique games available in North America on the service.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System Online
In September of 2019, Super Nintendo Switch Online was added to Switch Online, and gives subscribers access to a selection of Super Nintendo Entertainment System games to play online. This collection, similar to the Nintendo Entertainment System Online, does not cycle out games and subscribers can play as many games as they want from this selection. When it launched, It included all the features from NES Online with the addition of a rewind feature. As of March 30, 2022, there are 51 unique games available in North America on the service.
Missions and Rewards
In March 1, 2022, Missions and Rewards were added. Nintendo Switch Online members get weekly missions, that when complete give members My Nintendo Platinum points. The missions reset weekly. Members can also exchange platinum points for user icon elements. The elements are divided in three types: character, frame and background. All three can combine to make an original user icon The user icon elements rotate weekly based on a game and the game changes every month.
Expansion Pack
An expanded paid add-on, it includes exclusive content such as access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, and paid DLC for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2.
Pricing
The pricing for each region is displayed in the table below. The subscription can be paid using the eShop balance. The family plan will allow the user to pay for 8 accounts' access to Nintendo Switch Online, even across devices.
| Country | 1 month | 3 months | 1 year | Family | 1 year (With Expansion Pack) | Family (With Expansion Pack) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | $3.99 | $7.99 | $19.99 | $34.99 | $49.99 | $79.99 |
| Canada | $4.99 | $9.99 | $24.99 | $44.99 | $63.99 | $99.99 |
| Japan | ¥300 | ¥800 | ¥2400 | ¥4500 | ¥4900 | ¥8900 |
| Europe | 3.99€ | 7.99€ | 19.99€ | 34.99€ | 39,99 € | 69,99 € |
| UK | £3.49 | £6.99 | £17.99 | £31.49 | £34.99 | £59.99 |
| Australia | $5.95 | $11.95 | $29.95 | $54.99 | $59.95 | $109.95 |
| Chile | $3420 | $6850 | $17130 | $29980 | $42790 | $68490 |
Controllers
Nintendo Switch Online-themed controllers are available and made to mimic the original play style of each respective system included in the service. All are made wireless and chargeable, have LED lights, and additional small buttons. They can only be purchased online through Nintendo's website.
Updates
Phone App
On September 11, 2017, version 1.1.0 of the app was released. The update mainly fixed voice chat so that, it can used while the phone is multitasking and during sleep mode. On March 7, 2022, version 2.0.0 of the app was released. The update redesigned the user interface, added the ability to see when your friends are online, and allows you to view and copy/paste your friend code. On May 9, 2022, the 2.1.0 update gave the app the ability to switch between light and dark modes.
Servers
Nintendo upgraded to new server that all Switch online games will use going forward. The first game to use these new server was Monster Hunter Rise.
Auto-renewal changes
In April 2022, Nintendo announced that they would turn off auto-renewal charges for Nintendo Switch Online members.[1]
Reception
Reviews for the service have been mostly negative. Its affordable price compared to other online services has been generally praised, but its smartphone app, NES and SNES content library, the initially small selection of cloud save-supported games, and lack of dedicated servers have been criticized.
During the Nintendo Direct on September 23, 2021, the addition of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games for Nintendo Switch Online, exclusive to an Expansion Pack, was revealed. During the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct on October 15, 2021, the price of the Expansion Pack was revealed, drawing widespread criticism. The same day, Nintendo uploaded a trailer to YouTube detailing the Expansion Pack, which was received negatively, with about 120,000 dislikes as of November 1, 2021, becoming the most disliked video on the channel. The Nintendo 64 games emulated via the Expansion Pack were found to have several performance issues, including input lag and frame rate issues. The fixed remapping of controls designed for the six-button Nintendo 64 controller to the four-button Switch Joy-Con also affected games like Sin & Punishment. Multiplayer games like Mario Kart 64 also appeared to use netcode that Nintendo had previously used in prior Virtual Console releases which forced the game to pause for other players until all players were synchronized. The games also did not support a virtual equivalent of the Controller Pak memory expansion, preventing players from utilizing ghost data in Mario Kart 64 or the native method of saving in WinBack. Informal tests found that the Nintendo Switch Online version of selected Nintendo 64 games performed worse than compared to the same games available on the Wii U's Virtual Console.
In its quarterly report to investors given in November 2021, Nintendo stated that they plan "to improve and expand both Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack striving to provide services that satisfy consumers."
Gallery
| Main article: Nintendo Switch Online/gallery |
References
- ↑ Nintendo turns off "Auto Renewal" for NSO by default (Nintendo Everything) Date: April 13, 2022.
External Links
| Nintendo Switch Online | |
|---|---|
| Games with Phone App service | Splatoon 2 • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe • ARMS • Mario Tennis Aces • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate • Animal Crossing: New Horizons • Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online |
| Exclusive games | Tetris 99 • Pac-Man 99 • Nintendo Entertainment System Online • Super Nintendo Entertainment System Online Defunct: Super Mario Bros. 35 |
| Expansion Pack | Nintendo 64 Online • Sega Genesis • Happy Home Paradise DLC • Booster Course Pass DLC • Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC |
