Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch’s online service — aptly titled Nintendo Switch Online — will launch September of this year. Though Microsoft and Sony have both offered online premium services for some time, this is the first Nintendo console to charge for online use.
The service will cost $3.99 a month, $7.99 for 3 months, or $19.99 per year, according to the official Nintendo Switch Online page — markedly lower than PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold. That price is in line with the range Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima gave in an interview back in February.
Nintendo Switch Online will offer “a compilation of classic titles” each month — titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario, to use Nintendo’s example. Unlike PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold, which lets you keep the game as long as you keep paying, the Switch game will be free only for the month in question. Once the next month rolls around and a new game is featured, the previous offering will be removed. Nintendo is also reportedly adding online features to these 8- and 16-bit games, including leaderboards and multiplayer, at least where applicable. Though currently free, online play will require buying in the subscription service once it launches. More details are expected later this year.
At the Nintendo briefing, one participant, before stating his question, requested executives "please make cloud save function available for the Switch."
— Takashi Mochizuki (@mochi_wsj) February 1, 2018
TOTALLY AGREE
It’s been quite a week for Nintendo news. The company also announced that the Switch, in less than one year since launch, has surpassed its predecessor the Wii U in lifetime hardware sales. It’s also announced a Mario Kart game for smartphones and an animated Super Mario movie in partnership with the studio behind Minions.
#NintendoSwitch Online will launch in September 2018! pic.twitter.com/h3Rpeyymsx
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 1, 2018