Nintendo Switch Online Service To Remain Free Until 2018
Nintendo has announced more details about the Switch online service. It will stay free until 2018, and once they start charging, it will cost twenty dollars a year. Unlike what was originally planned, subscribers will get access to a library of classic Nintendo games with new online features.
In what is a huge and welcome change of pace for Nintendo lately, they actually seem to have listened to the community. It appears that they’re completely overhauling how the Nintendo Switch online service works. They’re getting rid of the proposed plan of offering classic games for free for a month with the option to buy.
Instead, as Kotaku reports, those that subscribe to the online service will get unlimited access to a library of classic games with additional online features. They’ll get to play them as long as they keep paying for the subscription. Below is a statement to Kotaku from Nintendo:
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will have ongoing access to a library of classic games with added online play. Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to play a wide variety of classic games, including Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario. More games will be announced at a later date. At launch the classic game library will include NES games. Super NES games continue to be under consideration, but we have nothing further to announce at this time.
Nintendo Switch players will be able to enjoy all the perks of the online subscription for free until 2018. When they’ll start charging for it is still unknown, but we do know the prices. You’ll have the option to pay $4 for one month, $8 for three months and $20 for a whole year. Unfortunately, it seems the plans for a separate phone app for voice chat and lobbies are staying in place.
