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Nintendo Switch Online: more details (pricing, free classic games), launch delayed to 2018

Back in January, during the Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017, Nintendo announced that a paid online service for the Nintendo Switch would be launched this Fall. Unfortunately, Nintendo didn’t really share all that many details about this service, logically called Nintendo Switch Online, though Tatsumi Kimishima did talk about the price in an interview a few weeks ago.

But today, Nintendo finally shared some concrete details about the Nintendo Switch Online service, which is now launching next year instead of this Fall. Naturally, the company didn’t give any reason for that delay, so we can only speculate. But one thing’s for sure: online will remain free for all games until next year, and the dedicated smartphone app (to connect with your friends, chat in-game) is still launching in beta this Summer.

There’s a major change regarding the service: there is no more monthly free classic game anymore. Instead, all subscribers will get unlimited access to a library of classic games, with added online play. As long as you’re subscribed, you can play as many games as you want as many times as you want and for as long as you want.

Classics to be available via that service include Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight, and Dr. Mario, with more titles to be announced at a later date. It’s not quite clear whether those games will be available via the regular Virtual Console service since… well… we still know nothing about that one!

But the most important announcement today was the pricing, that was finally confirmed:

  • 1-Month Membership (30 days): $3.99 (USD) / 300 Yen / 3.99€ / AU$5.95 / NZ$6.55 
  • 3-Month Membership (90 days): $7.99 (USD) / 800 Yen / 7.99€ / AU$11.95 / NZ$13.15 [you save $3.98 / 100 Yen / 3.98€ / AU$5.90 / NZ$6.50]
  • 12-Month Membership: $19.99 (USD) / 2 400 Yen / 19.99€ / AU$29.95 / NZ$32.95 [you save $27.89 / 1 200 Yen / 27.89€ / AU$41.45 / NZ$45.65]

Pricing for other countries will be announced at a later date.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know for now. More details about the Nintendo Switch Online service and the mobile app will be shared at a later date.

Source: Nintendo

Lite_Agent

Founder and main writer for Perfectly Nintendo. Tried really hard to find something funny and witty to put here, but had to admit defeat.

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