 | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Type | Online service |
| Launch date | September 19, 2018 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Status | Online |
| Members | over 10 million (as of July 2019) |
| Website | www |
Nintendo Switch Online is a suite of features on the Nintendo Switch video game console requiring purchase of a subscription. Nintendo Switch Online features include online multiplayer, cloud saving, voice chat, access to a library of Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games, as well as other promotions and offers. Following a period where some of its features were available to all users at no charge, the subscription service officially launched on September 19, 2018.
The service is Nintendo's third generation online service after Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and the Nintendo Network.
History[]
In January 2017, prior to the release of the Nintendo Switch console in March, it was stated that online features such as multiplayer would eventually require purchase of a paid "online service", but that they would be available to all users at no charge until the service launched. Features announced included a companion smartphone app, as well as access to a free Nintendo Entertainment System game per-month. The service was initially planned for late 2017.[1]
In June 2017, it was announced that the service would be delayed until some time in 2018, and that Nintendo was aiming for an annual price of $20.[2] Then-Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé explained that the delays were to ensure that the service was "world-class", and had enough of its announced functionality available on-launch to justify its cost.[3] Nintendo aimed for a lower price point in comparison to PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold, as the service does not include the same range of features as these subscription services provide.[4][5] Then-Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima stated that the price point was a subject of importance in designing the Switch's online services, and that regardless of what competitors were doing, "it's a matter of getting our content to the consumer at a price point that would make them happy, and then we're willing to look at what else we can do going forward."[6][6]
Additional features, including a larger and persistent library of NES games for subscribers (with 20 available on launch, and more to be added on an ongoing basis), as well as cloud save support, was unveiled during a Nintendo Direct presentation on September 17, 2018.[7] The service became available on September 19, 2018[8][9][10] in 43 markets.[11][12][13][14]
In September 2018, Nintendo Switch consoles imported to China started experiencing connectivity issues there, due to the Nintendo Switch Online service using Google's servers, which are blocked in China.[15]
On March 28, 2019, Twitch announced that Twitch Prime members can claim up to a year of free Nintendo Switch Online membership between March 28, 2019 and January 20, 2020.[16]
The service officially launched in South Korea and Hong Kong,[17] on April 23, 2019.[18]
Usage[]
By December 31, 2018, approximately three months after its launch, the service had gained more than eight million subscribers.[19] Nintendo reported in late-April 2019 that the service had 9.8 million subscribers.[20]
As of July 2019, President of Nintendo, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online has over 10 million subscribers.[21]
Features[]
Multiplayer[]
Nintendo Switch Online is required to access online multiplayer on the majority of titles. Some free-to-play multiplayer games, such as Fortnite Battle Royale and Warframe, are exempt from this requirement, and can be played online freely without a subscription.[22][23]
Cloud saves[]
Cloud storage allows save data for many games to be synchronized online, so it can be recovered if the user must move their Nintendo Account to a different Switch console.[24] The feature is not available on games with certain forms of online functionality (particularly item trading and competitive rankings), citing concerns surrounding the possibility of abuse that could "unfairly affect" gameplay.[25]
Players lose access to their cloud saves should they cancel or allow their subscription to expire, though have a grace period of six months to renew their subscriptions or recover these cloud saves before these saves are purged.[26][27]
Communication[]
Users can voice chat through the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app on smartphones. Voice chat functionality is not available natively through the Switch console; Fils-Aimé justified the decision by explaining that "Nintendo's approach is to do things differently. We have a much different suite of experiences than our competitors offer, and we do that in a different way. This creates a sort of yin and yang for our consumers. They're excited about cloud saves and legacy content but wish we might deliver voice chat a different way, for example."[28]
NES games[]
Switch Online subscribers can access a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) app (Family Computer in Japan), which features a persistent and expanding library of classic titles from the system. The games are available as long as the user has an active subscription, and a user must connect online at least once a week to continue to access the titles while offline. Games with multiplayer modes support both local and online play; the online play function is the first for NES games.[29][30][31][32]
Certain games also have an alternate version labeled "SP" ("Extra" in some regions) which either starts the player near the end of the game or starts the game with the maximum amount of items and lives. Most of the games released in both the Americas and PAL territories are the original NTSC-U versions, which include their North American titles and 60 Hz support. The Western NES variant of the software is available in South Korea, whilst the Japanese Family Computer variant is available in Hong Kong.[18]
| Release date | Games | NA/PAL/Korea | Japan/Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2018[33] | Balloon Fight | 
|
|
| Baseball |
|
| |
| Donkey Kong |
|
| |
| Double Dragon |
|
| |
| Dr. Mario |
|
| |
| Excitebike |
|
| |
| Ghosts'n Goblins |
|
| |
| Gradius |
|
| |
| Ice Climber |
|
| |
| Ice Hockey |
|
| |
| The Legend of Zelda |
|
| |
| Mario Bros. |
|
| |
| Pro Wrestling |
|
| |
| River City Ransom |
|
| |
| Soccer |
|
| |
| Super Mario Bros. |
|
| |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 |
|
| |
| Tecmo Bowl |
|
| |
| Tennis |
|
| |
| Yoshi |
|
| |
| October 10, 2018[34][35] | The Legend of Zelda SP |
|
|
| NES Open Tournament Golf |
|
| |
| Solomon's Key |
|
| |
| Super Dodge Ball |
|
| |
| November 14, 2018[36][37] | Gradius SP (Stage 5) |
|
|
| Metroid |
|
| |
| Mighty Bomb Jack |
|
| |
| NES Open Tournament Golf SP | 
|
| |
| TwinBee |
|
| |
| December 12, 2018[38][39] | Adventures of Lolo |
|
|
| Adventures of Lolo 2 |
|
| |
| Dr. Mario SP |
|
| |
| Metroid SP (Ridley battle) |
|
| |
| Ninja Gaiden |
|
| |
| Wario's Woods |
|
| |
| January 16, 2019[40][41] | Blaster Master |
|
|
| Ghosts'n Goblins SP |
|
| |
| Joy Mech Fight |
|
| |
| Ninja Gaiden SP |
|
| |
| Zelda II: The Adventure of Link |
|
| |
| February 13, 2019[42][43] | Blaster Master SP |
|
|
| Kirby's Adventure |
|
| |
| Metroid SP (Mother Brain battle) |
|
| |
| Super Mario Bros. 2 [upper-alpha 1] |
|
| |
| Tsuppari Oozumou |
|
| |
| March 13, 2019[44][45] | Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light |
|
|
| Kid Icarus |
|
| |
| Kirby's Adventure SP |
|
| |
| StarTropics |
|
| |
| Yie Ar Kung-Fu |
|
| |
| Zelda II: The Adventure of Link SP |
|
| |
| April 10, 2019[46][47] | Kid Icarus SP |
|
|
| Punch-Out!! |
|
| |
| Star Soldier |
|
| |
| Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels [upper-alpha 2] |
|
| |
| May 15, 2019[48] | Clu Clu Land |
|
|
| Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Cluclu Land [upper-alpha 3] |
|
| |
| Donkey Kong Jr. |
|
| |
| Star Soldier SP |
|
| |
| Vs. Excitebike |
|
| |
| June 12, 2019 | City Connection |
|
|
| Double Dragon II: The Revenge |
|
| |
| TwinBee SP |
|
| |
| Volleyball |
|
| |
| July 17, 2019 | Donkey Kong 3 |
|
|
| Mighty Bomb Jack SP |
|
| |
| Wrecking Crew |
|
| |
| August 21, 2019 | Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai |
|
|
| Gradius SP (Second loop) |
|
| |
| Kung-Fu Heroes |
|
| |
| Vice: Project Doom |
|
|
- ↑ Titled as Super Mario USA in Japan.
- ↑ Titled as Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan.
- ↑ A Family Computer Disk System port of the arcade edition titled Vs. Clu Clu Land.
Offers and promotions[]
Switch Online subscribers are also granted access to special offers and promotions from Nintendo; on launch, those who purchased a 12-month subscription or family plan received special in-game items for Splatoon 2, and Nintendo opened exclusive pre-orders for special wireless controllers based on the NES controller,[49][50][51][52] specifically intended for use with the aforementioned NES app.[citation needed]
Coinciding with the anticipated release of Super Mario Maker 2, a price-reduction promotion was announced during the game's Nintendo Direct that was available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online members. The promotion introduced "Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers", which allows purchasers to download two qualifying Nintendo Switch games for a set price of $99.99 MSRP, compared to a $120 sum of buying both games separately.[53]
References[]
- ↑ Eadicicco, Lisa (January 13, 2017). "Nintendo Is Launching a New Online Service for the Switch". Time. Retrieved December 1, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo Switch online service pushed back to 2018" (in en). GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-02-nintendo-switch-online-service-to-launch-in-2018.
- ↑ Stark, Chelsea (June 15, 2017). "Nintendo boss explains why Switch's online services were delayed". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ Pereira, Chris (February 1, 2017). "Nintendo Switch's Online Subscription Service May Cost Less Than You Expect". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (February 1, 2017). "Nintendo Switch Online Service will run between $17.50 and $26.50 a year in Japan". VG247. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Peckham, Matt (February 7, 2017). "19 Things Nintendo's President Told Us About Switch and More". Time. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ Knezevic, Kevin (September 17, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Online Service: More Details Revealed In Nintendo Direct". GameSpot. Retrieved December 1, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo Switch Online is live — here’s how to join". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/18/17874798/nintendo-switch-online-launch-subscription.
- ↑ "What time will Nintendo Switch Online launch?". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/18/17873926/nintendo-switch-online-release-date-time-edt-pdt-downtime.
- ↑ "The Nintendo Switch online service is launching on September 18th". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/12/17850516/nintendo-switch-online-service-release-date.
- ↑ "Nintendo of America cites 8 markets in the Americas". Nintendo of America. Retrieved March 4, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo UK cites 32 markets: 31 European countries and South Africa". Nintendo UK. Retrieved March 4, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo Australia cites Australian and New Zealand markets". Nintendo Australia. Retrieved March 4, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo Co., Ltd. cites Japanese market". Nintendo Co., Ltd. Retrieved March 4, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Gamers in China can’t play online games on Nintendo Switch anymore". Abacus. https://www.abacusnews.com/big-guns/gamers-china-cant-play-online-games-nintendo-switch-anymore/article/2166039.
- ↑ Good, Owen S. (2019-03-28). "Get Nintendo Switch Online free for a year, with Twitch Prime". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-03-29.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Lane, Gavin (February 20, 2019). "Nintendo Switch Online To Launch In Hong Kong And South Korea". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 20, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Nosuupu, Iggy (April 2, 2019). "Nintendo Switch Online Launches April 23 In South Korea And Hong Kong, Pricing And Offers Announced". NintendoSoup. Retrieved April 17, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (January 31, 2019). "Nintendo Switch Online Surpasses 8 Million Subscribers". IGN. Retrieved January 31, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Phillips, Tom (April 26, 2019). "9.8 million accounts subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 26, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (July 6, 2019). "Nintendo Switch Online now has 10 million subscribers". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 6, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Fortnite for Switch won’t require Nintendo’s premium online service for play". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/14/17861300/fortnite-nintendo-switch-online.
- ↑ Fillari, Alessandro (November 20, 2018). "Warframe Out Now On Nintendo Switch -- An Impressive Port That Surprised Us". GameSpot. Retrieved November 30, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Cloud Saves are coming to the Nintendo Switch, here’s how they’ll work". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/13/17856730/nintendo-switch-online-cloud-saves-explained.
- ↑ Hollister, Sean (September 10, 2018). "Nintendo says cheaters are why some Switch games can't backup saves online" (in en). CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/nintendo-says-cheaters-are-why-some-switch-games-cant-backup-saves-online/.
- ↑ Santangelo, Nick (September 14, 2018). "Nintendo Cloud Save Data Is Deleted If Your Subscription Expires". IGN. Retrieved September 17, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Dornbush, Jonathan (September 25, 2018). "Nintendo Will Let You Recover Cloud Saves Up To 6 Months After Your Switch Online Subscription Lapses". IGN. Retrieved September 25, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo president: “I compete for time,” not against Xbox, PlayStation" (in en-us). Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/10/nintendo-president-our-future-is-as-an-entertainment-company/.
- ↑ Schreier, Jason (May 1, 2017). "Nintendo Switch's Online Service Will Be $20/Year, Includes Classic Games [UPDATE]". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ Schreier, Jason (June 1, 2017). "Nintendo Switch's Online Service Will Be $20/Year, Includes Classic Games". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ Saed, Sharif (June 2, 2017). "No more just one free game you can only play for a month: Nintendo changes its online service's free game scheme". VG247. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> - ↑ Stevens, Colin (September 17, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Online: Nes Games Can Be Played Offline For Up To Seven Days". IGN. Retrieved September 17, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Good, Owen S. (September 13, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Online has these 20 classic NES games". Polygon. Retrieved January 10, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Knezevic, Kevin (October 5, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Online Adding Three More NES Games Next Week". GameSpot. Retrieved January 10, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Santangelo, Nick (2018-10-10). "Nintendo Releases Special Version of Legend of Zelda for Switch Online". IGN. Retrieved 2019-04-11.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (November 6, 2018). "Three New NES Games, Including Metroid, Are Headed to Nintendo Switch Online Next Week". IGN. Retrieved January 10, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo Switch Online Adds SP Versions Of NES Open Tournament, Gradius For Easy Play". Siliconera. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2019-04-11.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Doolan, Liam (December 5, 2018). "Nintendo Adds Three More Games To The Switch Online NES Library On 12th December". Nintendo Life. Retrieved January 10, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Keane, Sean. "Nintendo Switch Online update brings two surprises". CNET. Retrieved January 10, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Keane, Sean. "Nintendo Switch Online adds another NES Zelda game next week". CNET. Retrieved January 10, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "NES – Nintendo Switch Online Update Stealth-Releases Ninja Gaiden, Ghosts'n Goblins' SP Versions". Siliconera. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Romano, Sal (February 6, 2019). "NES – Nintendo Switch Online adds Kirby's Adventure and Super Mario Bros. 2 on February 13". Gematsu.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Burch, Jennifer (2019-02-13). "NES Nintendo Switch Online sneaks in SP versions of Blaster Master and Metroid". Nintendo Wire. Retrieved 2019-04-11.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Romano, Sal (March 4, 2019). "NES - Nintendo Switch Online adds Kid Icarus and StarTropics on March 13". Gematsu.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Keane, Sean (2019-03-06). "Nintendo Switch Online adds special versions of Zelda 2, Kirby's Adventure". CNET. Retrieved 2019-04-11.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Kohler, Chris (April 2, 2019). "Super Mario Lost Levels, Punch-Out!! Heading To Switch This Month". Kotaku. Retrieved April 2, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Nintendo Switch Online Gets Kid Icarus SP". Siliconera. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-04-11.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Makuch, Eddie (2019-05-08). "Free NES Titles For Switch Online Subscribers Revealed For May". GameSpot. Retrieved 2019-05-08.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Gach, Ethan (September 13, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Is Getting NES Controllers". Kotaku. Retrieved September 13, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Fogel, Stefanie (September 13, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Online Members Can Buy These Nifty NES Controllers" (in en-US). Variety. https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/nintendo-switch-online-nes-controllers-1202941445/.
- ↑ Carter, Chris (September 16, 2018). "Say what? Nintendo states Switch NES Joy-Con will only work on NES games". Destructoid. Retrieved September 16, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Knezevic, Kevin (September 14, 2018). "Nintendo Switch Online's First "Special Offers" Revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved February 6, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Heller, Emily (2019-05-16). "Nintendo offers 'game vouchers' to Switch Online members". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-05-23.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Nintendo Switch 
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Nintendo Switch • Joy-Con • Nintendo Switch Pro Controller • Amiibo • Nintendo Labo | |
| Software and services | System software (Mii • Nintendo eShop) • Switch Online • Apps (Niconico • YouTube) • Games (A-L • M-Z • Best-selling • Pro Controller) • Nintendo Account (My Nintendo) | |