Nintendo Switch Online Full Details Revealed

Nintendo today announced the full details regarding Nintendo Switch Online. The paid online subscription service will go live on September 18, 2018.

[-Foxtrot]

Voice chat still on phones? Really Nintendo 🙄

[NecrumOddBoy]

A phone that makes calls already... You pay to make calls via an app. (Signal, WhatsApp, Hangouts etc. are free)

[S2Killinit]

A part of me will mourn the days of free online...

Finally Nintendo had to follow the rest into the paid online future. Am i crazy for being sad about this?? Does anyone feel the way i do?

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I'm still in the camp that believes online multiplayer shouldn't be behind paywalls on any console, so i sympathize with you.

[jlove4life]

Steam pc master race smile as last console make you pay for online

[milohighclub]

Jlove4life PC master race will cry when their desktops inevitable become hidden behind a paywall.. Desktop as a service will be a thing. M$ will ensure that.

[TheEnigma313]

I actually do miss free online multiplayer, but PS network is so much better than it was last gen because the users pay. Nintendo can follow the same track.

[WeedyOne]

Paid online multiplayer is part of the reason i dont game on consoles much anymore except for good single player exclusives.

I got my pc for online games now.

[HeisenbergX]

S2Killinit No trust me you are not the only one ... i remember the days of Ps3 and how lucky we were that generation to have free online on PS ahhh :(

[yeahokwhatever]

"ImDumbyDammit"
If you think Sony wasn't making money with the PS3.. I'm not even sure how to respond. You REALLY think the big hack had ANYTHING to do with a monthly fee? really?

[shadowraiserx]

I see some youtubers saying they will use discord instead but how that gonna be any better than using the nintendo app to play.

[Gh05t]

Its so they can get all that mobile data from its customers.

[blawren4]

There was zero indication that this aspect would have changed. not sure why you are surprised

[Gr8saiyaman88]

Honestly not even that bad.

[zombiewombie]

Not only that, but they erase your cloud saves if you let your sub expire. Nintendo cant seem to catch up.

[FallenAngel1984]

They basically told us everything we already knew in this Direct

[zaherdab]

You didn't know that they have the infinity gauntlet and kept snapping their finger to make people buy the online pass ...
Like seriously why do they keep doing these childish gimmicks in their directs .... a finger snap !!!! 10 times !!!

[Platformgamer]

psplus is triple the price but still 100x better than this awful online service nintendo will have

[bumbleforce]

I agree and disagree. Psn has more features but nintendos network never goes down unlike Sony's

[SierraGuy]

First of all PSN is NEVER down. Get your facts straight.

Second the more users you have the more vulnerable you are to hacks.

It's why windows is one of the most hacked platforms. EVERYONE is on it.

Give Nintendo the userbase of PSN and see what happens.

If your looking for stability in a console network PSN all the way.

It's no longer 2014.

[Aenea]

LOL, it never goes down? That's because it doesn't exist yet! Yes, a few servers for Splatoon 2 so far and of course the game servers themselves, but since they weren' really connected in any meaningful way there wasn't a single entry point to attack by DDOSers or hackers. This will start to happen once it actually starts from next Tuesday. Then add that when they get to the same amount of active users as PSN/XBL they will need to add more and more servers in many different places on the planet which means that eventually some of those servers will have hardware issues or software install issues. So when it becomes bigger and exists longer the more often server mishaps are going to happen...

@sierra

Well, no, PSN does go down once in a while but it's not that often that people need to keep mentioning it...

[jlove4life]

Lol what network the one that start next week

[Uken12]

They are all trash. I buy the stupid system, buy the game and most are locked behind online. Some have their own specific online cost.And you already pay for internet.

I don't mind paying a subscription for online play. But I think it should be half the price.

[Tazzy]

@SierraGuy Do some research before saying anything it's been down https://twitter.com/hashtag...

[Tazzy]

I think Nintendos will go down at times they all go down at some point.

[blanka4545]

Sony is always top of their game or get there!

[DarXyde]

SierraGuy,

Never? Did you really say PSN is NEVER down? So you've never seen the "PlayStation Network is down for scheduled maintenance" notification? Did I imagine Christmas with Lizard Squad?

PSN definitely goes down. It's not very frequent at all, but it does happen sometimes.

[blackblades]

Well it's there 1st time, we all know they are outta date.

[DarXyde]

To be fair, Sony's network wasn't great when PS4 started out either and that was $50/year. It's $60/year now (if you aren't savvy of deals, anyway) and it hasn't really offered any improvement over what it was in the time period before the price hike.

Nintendo may very well do the same thing: increase the price and provide no improved benefits to offering. For now, we'll see. It's unfortunate that they're charging since I think online play should be free for the platform, but this is the world we live in, I guess.

[blanka4545]

ps plus is quality I have it. Nintendo meh they suck for online and smash will be out in couple of months. Nintendo disappointing online they don't want my support ok!

[PhoenixUp]

I can’t believe Nintendo actually had the audacity to actually stand by the decision to have a smartphone app just to use basic voice chat in a video that’s supposed to entice people to subscribe to their new service, especially after Fortnite already showed how unnecessary it is.

This is one of the reasons I can’t take people who say “at least it’s cheap” as an excuse for this service’s various shortcomings seriously.

[Neonridr]

well it is cheap.. $2 a month for me in Canada.

[Aenea]

Still doesn't excuse the crappy implementation tho. It's not like ths is cheaper to implement network wise, since it would cost the same amount of traffic and could use the same protocols. Problem is that the Switch is a tad too weak to handle voice chat besides running a game, a design booboo if you ask me...

Then again, I won't be using my Switch with voice chat anyways so I don't mind all that much...

[generic-user-name]

They're all cheap when you break them down to a monthly basis.

[badz149]

@Neonridr

it was Free. and PS3 and Vita is still doing it for FREE = $0/month and have more features than this. what's the excuse again? the Vita that Nintendo fanboys love to troll and bash and call as not powerful enough to run Switch level games, have basic online functions natively for FREE. no phone needed!

[jznrpg]

Should be free for the need of another device

[Neonridr]

@badz149 - hey, I never said that other people weren't doing it better. I would pay $2 for classic games with online funcitonality, discounts in the eshop and online multiplayer. Maybe you wouldn't, and that's your choice.

[Aenea]

The hardware is too weak to handle voice chat so they need to come up with another way.
It's a crappy way, that's for sure and will never, ever use it like that...

[badz149]

FYI, the PSP has native voice chat. PSP, not Vita. power is not an excuse this time!

[blanka4545]

You can use your headset for fornite on Switch lol!

[FBNS]

Fortnight has native chat on the switch... This is just Nintendo buggery

[PhoenixUp]

@ Neo

The quality is cheap as well

@ Aenea

Power has nothing to do with it. Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, DS, PSP, 360, PS3, 3DS, & Vita are all less powerful consoles than NS and they still handled voice chat in a more practical manner. 360 & Vita even offered party chat, something you’ll most likely never see on a Nintendo system.

[IanTH]

The freakin' DS has games that support voice chat on the console...the DS!

[Officialxandr]

THIS! I'm not supporting this. Here's hoping the reception is bad. Sorry, Splatoon 2 and other online games.

[paintedgamer1984]

This service is laughable. It should be FREE. Id pay 60 a year if it included Virtual Console, cloud saves, and voice chat!

[King_Noctis]

But it does include cloud save, voice chat, and some NES game.

[ShadowWolf712]

Cloud save on select titles only and voice chat that has to be run through a phone app.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@shadowwolf712
Correction: cloud saves on the known majority of titles with only a select few so far not doing it, and voice chat through phones for a small selection of games like Spla2n, since games like Fortnite have proven that regular chat can be, and still is, supported on Switch.

Having said that, I do agree with you; the chat app is stupid.
I'd rather use Discord, if forced to use my phone for chat at all.
They could solve a lot of issues, at least, by putting the phone apps functions into a background-running app on the Switch itself.

[CyberRekkr]

Sounds like Nintendo is chargimg you for really nothing that great. Phone App to voice chat?? The Psvita could do voice chat & it came out in 2012... Nintendo is Dodoo!

[Apex13]

Just NES games in 2018 and moving forward is a slap in the face. This for me is a let down and my money shall more be supporting their online until they make it worth while.

[Benjaminkno]

I’m sure they’ll bring more as time goes on.

[Apex13]

I hope so because I am far from impressed and will not put my money into the current offerings. How can MS and Sony set the path for them to think this is ok! I’m very rude or die but this gets 0 co sign. I guess the others will remain my go to for online sadly.

[jznrpg]

I have about .01% interest in Nintendo’s online service. Maybe next gen when they figure things out but using multiple devices to just voice chat is very lame.

[Bronxs15]

I’m just gonna say it. Nintendo needs to go the way of Sega. It’s 2018 and they want you to voice chat in a phone lol (among other things)

[plmkoh]

I remember the old days of Age of Empires dial up. We had to voice chat over the mobile because the home line was occupied LOL

[CaptainObvious878]

I would love to play ninty exclusives on a proper console instead of an underpowered, over priced device.

[SierraGuy]

Would also attract more AAA multiplat third party.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Yeah, no.
A phone app doesn't justify wanting Nintendo dead; that's just petty.XD

[Nyxus]

I don't think he meant dead. Sega isn't dead.

[masterfox]

Revolutionary step for Nintendo, ant step for the game industry, yes the industry didn't move nothing.

[Gaming4Life1981]

I know it's only 20 bucks a year but this online service is a complete RIP off.

[ibrake4naps]

I think I'd pay for online gaming on my PC before I would for my portable...

[chris235]

apologists: rise&shine ;-)

[Benjaminkno]

I understand that Nintendo will have to deal with a lot of upset parents with their upset kids getting bullied on their Nintendo Switch games because people don’t know how to act.

That being said, it would’ve been better to deal with online chat a different way rather than not at all. There are other options.
I’m disappointed they didn’t bring more to the table.
I won’t be paying for the service. I don’t have any online games or any other reason to buy this.

Also, I bought a hacked NES mini so I don’t care about your nes games. I already have all of them. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on your eshop and I’m not depending on my WiiU to stay alive so I can keep what I bought.

[hanko14]

turn to activision slowly

[howiewowwee]

this is too much nothing.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

Nintendo continues to be awful and anti-consumer in some aspects but people turn blind eye largely? I don't get it. If this were sony or MS people would be outraged.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

No they wouldn't.
People rolled over and screamed "gimme!" like a hoard of blind fanboys when Sony followed Microsoft with paywalling online multiplayer for $60.
All because the ps4 reveal event played the cards so heavily to the tune of roasting Microsoft's mistakes, that it blinded the majority to the details.
Their hype overrode their concerns as consumers.
And Sony knew it would.

And before anyone here gets pissy and retaliates with things like "well so are Nintendo fans now", just stop.
Because you're preaching to the choir. You're not wrong, but it's pretty pointless to say that Nintendo and it's fans are the only ones supporting anti-consumer ideals at this point, when we're all on the same Titanic.

No company who openly supports paywalled multiplayer is totally on the consumers' side, and the same goes, by and large, for the consumers supporting it as well.

No one here is innocent.
It is OUR fault for not standing up against online mp paywalls sooner than this, and it's the fault of the console companies for letting their greed get the best of them, on this and many other issues.

[Pricey]

All that for just three disagrees, I’ll add one more just so you can feel better.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@pricey
Still haven't proven me wrong, regardless of meaningless disagrees, so be as petty as you like.
Again, we're all in the same Titanic here.

More people than not, even in the Nintendo camp, are dissatisfied with how Nintendo is handling their online plans.
Saying that there's a blind eye being turned by most is wrong.
As is pretending that any console maker is free of anti-consumerist sin.

[Artemidorus]

So did they do to warrent the charge?

[Bronxs15]

If they really wanted to try this out. Nintendo should do as Sony did during ps3. Keep the online multiplayer free, but have value adds like free games every month and deep discounts. And free switch games at that not frigging ice climbers. This is crap. I won’t be subscribing. And I won’t be purchasing any online games for Nintendo. Only Nintendo single player games or games I know I’d utilize local multiplayer with.

For example they just prevented me from ever buying splatoon. It was a game I would consider before, now nope. But I still have Mario kart but won’t play online just split screen with friends and fam.

[Gh05t]

I was actually considering this but now I am really not. I guess my Ninetendo switch will be my Single player system. Its just not worth even $20 a year to play NES games when I have the NES Classic and Emulators all over the place. ANd $60 for some NES controllers GTFO! Why does Nintendo keep trying to rip off its fans with $90 docking stations and way to expensive controllers.

[SierraGuy]

You think that's expensive? Go purchase a dualshock 4.

[Gh05t]

I am not talking about PS I am talking about Nintendo.

Also just because one is expensive doesnt mean I am okay with everything being expensive.

And if you really think that two NES controllers are even close to the same grade/capabilities of a DS4 or Xbox controller you are kidding yourself.

[Atomicjuicer]

I’m trading in Splatoon. This service looks utter rubbish.

[blawren4]

There are only two options here related to voice chat and other features like the backseat chat and lobbies, notifications if your switch isn't on, etc.:

The best thing to do here is to try it as designed with an open mind, provide CONSTRUCTIVE feedback in the app, and watch the service adapt and improve over time. People will adapt to this(which I believe many will or they will find alternatives, plain and simple.

How many times has Nintendo shown us something we didn't know we needed and we hated at the time. People don't inherently like change, but Nintendo likes to change and try new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. We owe it to ourselves to see fully what they have to offer, and have realistic expectations. Give them a chance people.

[akaFullMetal]

This type of change is cumbersome and requires an additional device to do just chat. Why rethink the wheel.

[blawren4]

This isn't a change for the sake of change. This is the first truly hybrid system. Perhaps the current wheel doesn't meet the needs of a hybrid system in Nintendo's eyes. It is their solution to a voice chat that they believe was necessary to work with a hybrid system. It might be OK after all is said and done. If not, then the next Switch system might resolve some of the issues. I'll still remain open minded and try new things, provide feedback.

[chris235]

yaaay back to the standard of the 90s. so cool.

[OzzY-waZZy]

Oh no.. but let's pump out daily articles on crossplay. This service sucks and people should be making a bigger deal.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

They are making a big enough deal that, if they keep it up, things should change.
The same should go for crossplay.
Keep the criticisms coming, but make them INTELLIGENT ones.

[Bleucrunch]

I am not impressed with this at all. Think about it, look how much it costs, you get what you pay for I suppose. This not something that I will run out and get on day one...its mediocre.

[Blu3_Berry]

This is utterly pathetic from Nintendo. Like come on, who the f**k can give Nintendo a pass on this 10 year old outdated online infrastructure.

It blows my mind how incompatible Nintendo is of making a simple, basic online system to the consumer.

[Redlife2g]

Omg river city ransome!

[BadElf]

Just a shitty group of NES games. Throw in a Gamecube game here and there! Eternal Darkness would be a great release for October....
but nah, nah...its Nintendo we're talking about

[Master of Unlocking]

Gee, thanks Microsoft for setting a precedent...

[microcapmag]

Everything will be online good update