The Nintendo Switch Online release date is finally set for Sept. 18, delayed by one and a half years as the service was supposed to roll out alongside the Nintendo Switch launch in March 2017.
Better late than never, with the service to offer a one-week trial for Nintendo Switch owners before they commit to becoming subscribers.
Nintendo Switch Online Launch: Sept. 18, Finally
Nintendo revealed through a tweet that Nintendo Switch Online will launch on Sept. 18, with more information on the service to be revealed in the delayed Nintendo Direct that has been rescheduled to Sept. 13.
The one-week trial will be accessible through the Nintendo Switch eShop, allowing players to try out the service before signing up for one of its membership plans.
Nintendo Switch Online for the Nintendo Switch will function similarly to the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Live for the Xbox One. Its main benefit is to enable online multiplayer, which is currently being offered for free to several Nintendo Switch games such as Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Arms. Free-to-play games such as the massively popular Fortnite, however, will not require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Other Nintendo Switch Online perks include access to classic NES games, including Super Mario Bros. 3, which is an important feature as the service is seen as the successor to Nintendo's Virtual Console. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription will also enable cloud saves, though it was recently reported that some games will not support the feature to prevent cheating.
The Nintendo Switch Online price is $3.99 for one month, $7.99 for three months, and $19.99 per year, for individual membership. Gamers also have the option of signing up for a family membership, which costs $34.99 per year for up to eight Nintendo Account holders.
What's Next For The Nintendo Switch?
Nintendo Switch Online has been a highly anticipated Nintendo Switch feature. With the service on its way, what should Nintendo Switch owners look forward to?
The lucrative holiday shopping season is drawing near, and Nintendo will make sure that Nintendo Switch owners will not be sitting out from the spending. Three high-profile Nintendo Switch games are on the way, namely Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Diablo III, and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go Eevee!
Nintendo Switch owners should stay tuned to the upcoming Nintendo Direct, to learn more about what else is coming for the hybrid console.
