Nintendo Switch Online Service Pushed to 2018, Will Cost $20 Per Year

New details about the Switch's online services and subscription service.

News by Matt Kim, News Editor

Updated on 2 June 2017

Nintendo updated its Switch Online details webpage, pushing the planned Fall 2017 release window back to 2018 while confirming the price and other details.

At the reveal event for the Nintendo Switch in January, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima announced that Nintendo Switch users will be able to use online services for free during a period following the console launch, but that a paid service will begin "in the fall of 2017." However, the new webpage now says that the service will roll out next year, along with a list of other new and updated details about the Switch's online service.

Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight, and Dr. Mario will be among the games available through the 'Classic Game Selection.'

Previously detailed online features like online lobby and voice chat, "classic game selection", and eShop deals will now arrive in 2018. However, a "free, limited version" of Nintendo's planned Online Switch app with voice and lobby capabilities will still roll out this summer.

Nintendo also revealed the pricing model for the online service with one-month subscriptions running at $3.99 USD, a three-month membership costing $7.99 USD (a $3.98 savings), and a year subscription costing $19.99 USD.

It also appears that Nintendo updated some of the details regarding their planned monthly game download service, which is now called "Classic Game Collection". Subscribers will have access to a an ongoing library of classic games with added online functions. Subscribers can play as many games in the library as they want, however many times they want as long as their subscription is active.

(Update: Nintendo told Kotaku, "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.”)

When Nintendo announced the Switch, the company revealed that online services for the console will be rolled into a mobile phone app that works with the Switch from outside the actual console. Nintendo President Kimishima revealed at the press conference:

"With Nintendo Switch, you will of course be able to enjoy online multiplayers gaming. And when you use a smart device application that will connect to Nintendo Switch, you will be able to invite friends to play online, set play appointments and chat with friends while enjoying matches in compatible games, all from your smart device."

We've reached out to Nintendo for comment and will update the story accordingly.

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Matt Kim

News Editor

Matt Kim is a former freelance writer who's covered video games and digital media. He likes video games as spectacle and is easily distracted by bright lights or clever bits of dialogue. He also once wrote about personal finance, but that's neither here nor there.