The Nintendo Switch is finally getting a full online service on Tuesday 18 September, a full 18 months after the hugely successful console first launched.With the launch date only a few days away, we finally have confirmation of the 20 NES games bundled in with your subscription, along with details of a week-long free trial meaning you can test out Nintendo Switch Online's full service before you buy.Nintendo also confirmed that a launch day update will permanently lock Switch user profiles to their linked Nintendo Accounts.
This will ensure you can safely manage your cloud saves and game purchases, while restricting account access to only one specific user (no sharing Super Smash Bros Ultimate with your mates, then).The hybrid Nintendo console functions as both a home gaming device and portable handheld, and has blown all sales forecasts out of the water.It sold over 10 million units in its first year alone, helped by a strong first-party line-up two of the most lauded Zelda and Mario games ever made, to start a number of high-profile AAA ports, and a flourishing ecosystem of indie games.That release schedule has slowed somewhat, and Nintendo will be looking to its incoming online service to keep up momentum on the widely successful console.
But what exactly will Nintendo Switch Online give players that they dont have alreadyWhat is Nintendo Switch Online(Image: Nintendo)Nintendo Switch Online is the you guessed it online service for Nintendo Switch owners.
Much like Xbox Live or Playstation Plus, signing up to the service affords you a host of additional content, offers, and access to online multiplayer play.
Theres also a tie-in smartphone app that provides players with in-game battle stats, voice chat functionality, and additional information on select titles.Anyone with a Nintendo console will already have a Nintendo Account, which functions as your personal profile for downloading updates or buying games through the eShop.This is, however, the first time Nintendos online service has required a paid subscription to use, so wary players will be looking to see if it matches up with equivalent offerings on competing consoles.Officially, users must be 13 years old or over to sign up for Nintendo Switch Online.When does Nintendo Switch Online launchAfter waiting 18 months for a full online service, we now know Nintendo Switch Online will be launching proper on September 18.While the general release window was leaked through an Amazon listing back in July, Nintendo has since given us the exact date.
A planned Nintendo Direct livestream was expected to offer more details about the service, along with a firm launch date, but was delayed to September 13 due to a destructive earthquake that hit Hokkaido, Japan earlier in the month.What does Nintendo Switch Online give meThat all-important question: whats in it for you The sections below will run you through everything likely to tempt you to Nintendo's paid online service.Fight fight fightNintendo Switch Online will finally give you the online capability to play, compete, and cooperate with players around the world.Online team-based shooters like Splatoon have proved hugely popular on the Switch, though committed players have had to make do with a fiddly workaround for enabling voice chat through the console.With the latest in Nintendos iconic brawler series, Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate, also arriving in November, its hoped that the fleshed-out service will prove a capable platform for competitive play and pave the way for Nintendos hesitant foray into eSports.NES games at launchIce ClimberThe Legend of ZeldaBalloon FightSoccerTennisMario Bros.Super Mario Bros.Dr.
MarioSuper Mario Bros.
3Donkey KongGhosts n GoblinsExcitebikeTecmo BowlYoshiDouble DragonGradiusIce HockeyRiver City RansomPro WrestlingBaseballWhere are my classic games, alreadyIf the warm fuzzy feeling of supporting your favorite video game publisher wasnt enough, your extra pennies each month will also net you access to a library of classic and retro games.This isnt the Virtual Console from the Wii and Wii U, though.
Instead of a marketplace for one-off purchases of classic games, Nintendo Switch Online members will be able to play select titles bundled into their subscription.At launch youll get 20 NES games, with the full list now announced and listed in the box, right.
There will reportedly be additional online features for cooperative and competitive play, though we envisage the exact specifications will vary between each game.At some point we expect this range to expand, though with the SNES Mini selling so well and a N64 Mini / GameCube Mini seemingly in the works, we expect Nintendo won't want to rush their whole back catalogue to market at once.Save files for all (almost)One sore point for users has been the omission of cloud saves for their games, meaning that a busted Switch console will take all your hard-earned progress with it.
To prevent you having to start Breath Of The Wild all over again again the paid service will back all of your save files onto Nintendos own servers for safety.Wed really have liked this for everyone, but it does add some more impetus for signing up to the official service.Nintendo recently suggested, however, that some big titles on the console including Splatoon 2 and the upcoming Pokemon Let's Go games would not support the feature.
While cloud saving will be enabled by default for most titles, developers can choose to opt out to prevent online cheating since reloading an old save file could restore items someone had traded to another player, or reset their online ranking.For the likes of Pokemon or Animal Crossing, the integrity of trading between players could be a big issue, and we know Nintendo are protective of their franchises.
But even third-party games like Dark Souls Remastered or FIFA 19 which both offer cloud saving on Playstation 4 and Xbox One also appear to be restricting the feature.What will Nintendo Switch Online costPricing Plans1 month: 3.49 / $3.993 months: 6.99 / $7.9912 months: 17.99 / $19.99Family (12 months): 31.49 / $34.99While the lack of online features at launch didnt do Nintendo any favours, it helped that players were given access to a limited version of the service for free.Why this was harder than on any other console isnt clear, but Nintendo is clearly shaking things up a bit for the Switch.This all changes when the paid service launches, requiring you to subscribe for a monthly fee though you'll be able to sign up for a free seven-day trial, just to try it.Individual users will be able to sign up for 3.49 / $3.99 per month, with reduced rates for longer membership options (see box, right).
Theres also a separate Family option that includes allows up to 8 Nintendo Accounts to use the same subscription, for 31.49 / $34.99.By comparison, an Xbox Live membership costs users 14.99 / $24.99 for a three-month subscription, while Playstation Plus will put you back 19.99 / $24.99.On price alone Nintendo Switch Online is the winner, though well be waiting until September to see how well it compares to competing services.kLNyJX56UZ4JWuoHH9cg5J.jpg#