The Nintendo Switch hybrid console has been expected to go online for quite some time and it surely will, but not just yet. The Japanese gaming behemoth has today doled out significant details about its paid online subscription service. It offers the users insight into the U.S pricing, features, as well as the range of classic games that’ll be made available to them. The subscription is expected to launch in its entirety sometime in 2018.
While the Wii and 3DS consoles are generally popular nowadays, the Nintendo Switch is off to a great start. This is because the said console has already broken sales records in the United States and the subscription can help the company further its sales ambitions across the globe. Here are the details of the online subscription service:
As for now, Nintendo is introducing online gameplay to acknowledge the insistent requests from its existing Switch user base. The company is currently making a handful of online features available to Nintendo Switch owners for free until 2018 but is planning to release the second feature set for a definite price — that too via a complimentary mobile app. This will enable Nintendo Switch users to invite friends, set up gaming sessions, or chat with friends during games on their second screens.
Also, the Japanese gaming giant will provide you access to several classic games, which have been updated with support for the new console and multiplayer capabilities, available in their catalog. It is currently not known what all original games will be available on the Nintendo Switch but the gaming giant has referenced games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario on their website.
A company spokesperson (in response to Kotaku) has also confirmed a major detail about the subscription service. Nintendo had previously declared that the aforementioned classic games will only be available for download for just one month, a strategy that’s similar to Sony’s PlayStation service. But, the spokesperson has clarified that the same is not the case and all classic games under this umbrella will be accessible to subscribers in their library.
Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.
As for the pricing, Nintendo Switch’s online subscription won’t cost you anything for the next one odd year. The consumers who’re willing to continue to enjoy the aforementioned services will have to shell out $3.99 for a month’s membership, $7.99 for bagging a subscription for three months, and $19.99 for an year worth’s of subscription.
