Nintendo has revealed that the Switch’s online services are set to cost $20 USD per year and will launch at some point in 2018.
Until the service officially launches, playing Switch games online will be free, says Nintendo. A one-month subscription is priced at $4, while a three-month subscription will cost $8. Canadian pricing has not been revealed but we’ve reached out to Nintendo Canada for specific pricing information.
As previously discussed by Nintendo, voice chat and online lobby features are not present on the Switch itself. Instead players need to access these features through a smartphone app Nintendos says is launching later this summer.
“Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games — all from your smart device,” writes Nintendo in a press release
“A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017.”
Subscribers to the Switch’s online service will get access to free versions of classic Nintendo games with additional online features, with the company citing Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario as marquee examples. Nintendo previously stated that subscribers would get access different titles each month, though it appears those plans seem have changed.
Operating similarly to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Games With Gold, subscribers to Nintendo’s service will be able to access these retro titles for as long as they remain subscribers to the platform.
It’s worth noting that Nintendo still hasn’t detailed its plans for the Switch’s Virtual Console. When Kotaku reached out to Nintendo regarding Nintendo’s downloadable retro console plans, the company stated, “we have nothing to announce on this topic.”
News leaked earlier this week regarding Nintendo’s online plans through Hori, a third-party headset manufacturer.
