Nintendo Switch Online membership: what you need to know

Nintendo Switch online price: how much is it? ... Individual users can sign up for $3.99 (£3.49 / AU$5.95) per month, with reduced rates for ... 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TheNintendoSwitchOnlineservicehasbeenrunningsince2019andwhileitstartedmuchlaterthanrivalserviceslikeXboxLiveorPlayStationPlus,it'sproventobeaworthwhileinvestmentforSwitchowners,offeringahostofonlinebenefitstothosewhosubscribeforamonthlyorannualfeeontopofthecostofaconsole.ThisisNintendo’sfirstpaidonlineserviceandthebasic$3.99(£3.49/AU$5.95)permonthsubscriptionisagooddealcheaperthancompetitorservices.(YoucancheckouttheseNintendoSwitchOnlinesubscriptionpricesforthebestdeal).Featureslikeaccesstoonlinemultiplayer,cloudsaves,freeretroNES/SNEStitleslikeStarfox2,andfreeexclusivegameslikeTetris99andthenewPac-Man99aremoreimportanttosomethanothers,andyoumaybethinkingofsubscribingforoneinparticular,orworrythatitisn’tjustificationenough.Butthere’splentytorecommendNintendoSwitchOnline,whetheryouhavetheoriginalconsole,thescaled-downNintendoSwitchLite,orarekeepinganeyeoutforwhatevernewNintendoSwitchmodelthatmightcomeafter. Withmillionsofpaidusersthere’scertainlyappetitefortheservice,andit’sonlylikelytogrowfurther.Withallthatinmind,istheNintendoSwitchOnlineserviceworthit?Andwhatnewretrogamesareontheway?You’llfindoutinourin-depthguidebelow.CheckoutthebestNintendoSwitchmemorycards,orthecheapestNintendoSwitchbundlesToday'sbestNintendoSwitchOnlinedealsReducedPriceNintendoSwitchOnline3...NintendoSwitchOnline3monthCDKeys$9.58$4.79ViewSeeallpricesNintendoSwitchOnline...NintendoSwitchOnline12-monthAmazon$19.99ViewSeeallpricesWecheckover250millionproductseverydayforthebestpricesCuttothechaseWhatisit?Nintendo'spaidonlineservice,allowingaccesstoahostofpremiumfeaturesDoIgetcloudsaves?Yoursavedataisbackeduptocloudwithasubscription,thoughlapsinginyoursubscriptionwillcomplicatematters(moreonthisbelow)DoIgetonlineplay?Yes,youcanplaywithmultiplefriends(orstrangers)online,thoughtheexactnumberdependsonthegameyou'replayingWhatgamesareincluded?NintendothrowsinfreeNESandSNESgameswithanemulatorapp,withnewtitlesaddedeverycoupleofmonths.TherearealsobattleroyaleexclusiveslikeTetris99andPac-Man99.Nintendo64andSegaGenesis/MegaDrivetitleswillbeaddedsoon.Whatdoesitcost?Subscriptionpricesstartat$3.99(£3.49/AU$5.95),thoughyoucangetmoreofasavingbuycommittingtolongerperiodsoftimeNintendoSwitchOnline:whatcanIplayonline?NintendoSwitchOnlinegivesyoutheonlinecapabilitytoplay,compete,andcooperatewithplayersaroundtheworld–whichmeansnothavingtheservicerestrictsyouraccesstoallofthosethings.Ifyoudon'tsignuptotheservice,youcanstillplayallyoursingle-playerorofflineSwitchgamestoyourheart'scontent:youdon'tneedittoplayBreathoftheWild,orforplayinglocalmultiplayerwithfriendsinyourlivingroom.ButmanyplayerswillwantaNintendoSwitchOnlinesubscriptiontogetthemostoutoftheirpurchases.CompetitivegameslikeSuperSmashBros.UltimatehaveprovenhugelypopularwithNintendoSwitchOnline.There’salsoatie-insmartphoneappthatprovidesplayerswithin-gamebattlestats,voicechatfunctionality,andadditionalinformationonselecttitles–mainlySplatoon2andotherfirst-partytitleslikeSmashBrosandMarioTennisAces.ARMS(2017)(Imagecredit:Nintendo)Sadlytherearestillnodedicatedservers,soplayerswillhavetomakedowithlessreliableP2P(peertopeer)hostingforonlinematches.Ontheupside,free-to-playonlinegameslikeFortnite,Paladins,orWarframedon'trequireapaidsubscriptiontotheservice.Or,ifyou'reaftertheswag,there'samembers-onlyoutfitforuseinSplatoon2,andtheabilitytobuyNintendo’swirelessNEScontrollersforplayingthoseretrogamesinstyle.CheckoutthebestonlinemulitplayerSwitchgamesNintendoSwitchOnlineExpansionPackNintendoannouncedasecondtierforitsonlinesubscriptionserviceduringtheSeptember23,2021NintendoDirectpresentation.KnownastheExpansionPack,theupgradedtierwillincludealltheamenitiesofthebasemodel,whileaddingNintendo64andSegaGenesis/MegaDrivetitlestotheservice.TheExpansionPacktierisduetolaunchinlateOctober2021,butNintendostressedthataconcretereleasedate,aswellaspricing,willbeannouncedatalatertime.NintendoSwitchOnlineNES/SNESgamesNESgamesNewfor2021:Fire'nIce,NinjaJaJaMaru-kun,SuperMarioBros.3SPTherest:Nightshade,SCAT,EliminatorBoatDuel,ShadowoftheNinja,Rygar,TheImmortal,IceClimber,TheLegendofZelda,BalloonFight,Soccer,Tennis,MarioBros.,SuperMarioBros.,Dr.Mario,SuperMarioBros.3,DonkeyKong,Ghosts’nGoblins,Excitebike,TecmoBowl,Yoshi,DoubleDragon,Gradius,IceHockey,RiverCityRansom,ProWrestling,Baseball,DonkeyKong3,WreckingCrew,DoubleDragonII:TheRevenge,Volleyball,CityConnectio,Punchout!!,StarSoldier,SuperMarioBros:TheLostLevels,KidIcarus,StarTropics,Kirby'sAdventure,SuperMarioBros.2,BlasterMaster,TheLegendofZeldaII,AdventuresofLolo,NinjaGaiden,Wario'sWoods,Metroid,TwinBee,MightyBombJack,NESOpenTournamentGolf,Solomon'sKey,SuperDodgeball,Crystalis,JourneytoSiliusIfthewarmfuzzyfeelingofsupportingyourfavoritevideogamepublisherwasn’tenough,yourextrapennieseachmonthwillalsonetyouaccesstoalibraryofclassicandretrogames,viatheNintendoEntertainmentSystem(NES)emulator.Thisisn’ttheVirtualConsolefromtheWiiandWiiU,though.Insteadofamarketplaceforone-offgamepurchases,NintendoSwitchOnlinemembersareabletoplayselecttitlesbundledintotheirsubscription.Atlaunchyougot20NEStitles,withtwoorthreeadditionaltitlescomingeverymonth.Thatpipelinehasdriedupinthepastyearorso,thougheverynowandagainNintendodropsafewmoretitlesoneitherNESorSNES–largelythelatter,thoughtheoddNESgameisstillthrowninnowandthen.(Imagecredit:Nintendo)SNESgamesNewfor2021:DoomsdayWarrior,PsychoDream,PrehistorikMan,Joe&Mac,MagicalDrop2,Spanky'sQuest,SuperBaseballSimulator1.0,SuperMarioKartSP,Bombuzal,Claymates,JellyBoyTherest:DonkeyKongCountry2:Diddy’sKongQuest,DonkeyKongCountry3:DixieKong’sDoubleTrouble!,Mario’sSuperPicross,ThePeaceKeepers,SUPERVALISIV,TheIgnitionFactor,TuffENuff,DonkeyKongCountry,NatsumeChampionshipWrestling,WildGuns,OperationLogicBomb,Pop'nTwinBee,SmashTennis,StarFox2,SuperPunch-Out,KirbySuperStar,BreathofFireII,BrawlBrothers,BreathofFire,Demon'sCrest,F-Zero,JoeandMac2:LostintheTropics,Kirby'sDreamCourse,Kirby'sDreamLand3,Pilotwings,StarFox,StuntRaceFX,SuperE.D.F.EarthDefenseForce,SuperGhouls’nGhosts,SuperMarioKart,SuperMarioWorld,SuperMarioWorld2:Yoshi’sIsland,SuperMetroid,SuperPuyoPuyo2,SuperSoccer,SuperTennis,TheLegendofZelda:ALinktothePastEachNESandSNEStitleis'remastered'in4:3HD,butwiththeoptiontoplayinamore'authentic'arcadeviewingmodewitha'CRT'(CathodeRayTube)styledisplay.Handyfeaturesincludebeingabletopauseeachgameatanypoint,orsaveandreloadyourowncheckpoints,makingtheexperiencemuchmoreforgivingthanthearcadecabinetsofyore.Onlinecapabilityalsoletsyouplaytwo-playergamescompetitivelywithfriends,orswapovercontrolbetweendevicesinone-playergames.Custombuttonmappingisabsent,soyouarestuckusingtheAandBbuttonsthewrongwayroundfromanactualNEScontroller–unlessyoubuyNintendo'swirelessNEScontrollers,whichareonlyavailableforsaleforNintendoSwitchOnlinemembers.NintendoSwitchOnlineN64gamesAtlaunch:SuperMario64,MarioKart64,Starfox64(Lylatwars),Yoshi'sStory,TheLegendofZelda:OcarinaofTime,WinBack:CovertOperations,MarioTennis,Dr.Mario64,SinandPunishmentPost-launch:TheLegendofZelda:Majora'sMask,F-ZeroX,MarioGolf,PokémonSnap,Kirby64:TheCrystalShards,PaperMario,Banjo-KazooieItwasalongtimecoming,butNintendo64gamesarefinallybeingaddedtotheNintendoSwitchOnlinesubscriptionservicethankstothenewExpansionPacktier.Quiteadiverselineupwillbeavailableatlaunch,anditlookslikepost-launchsupportwillbestrong,too,atleastforawhile.N64stalwartslikeTheLegendofZelda:OcarinaofTimeandSuperMario64arepresentandaccountedfor,butthere'ssomelovelysurprisesthrowninforgoodmeasure,includingBanjo-KazooieandSinandPunishment.NintendoSwitchOnlineSegaGenesis/MegaDrivegamesAtlaunch:CastlevaniaBloodlines,ContraHardCorps,Dr.Robotnik'sMeanBeanMachine,EccotheDolphin,GoldenAxe,GunstarHeroes,MUSHA,PhantasyStar4,Ristar,ShiningForce,Shinobi3,SonictheHedgehog2,StreetsofRage2,StriderIt'sfairtosaythatNintendofansweretakenabackwhenSegaGenesis/MegaDrivetitleswouldbemakingtheirwaytoNintendoSwitchOnlinealongsidetheN64.Sega's16-bitwonderwasheavilyrepresentedduringtheWii'sVirtualConsoledays,soit'sgreattoseemanyofthemreturnonNintendoSwitch.BesidesMUSHAandStrider,there'snorealsurprisesinthelaunchlineup,however.Butforanyonewho'syettoexperiencetheGenesis/MegaDrivelibraryproper,what'sonofferhereareamongthebesttheconsolehastooffer.Hopefully,theconsolewillseethesamelevelofpost-launchsupportastheothersystemsfeaturedonNintendoSwitchOnline.NES(Imagecredit:Nintendo)NintendoSwitchOnlinecloudsavesOnesorepointforSwitchusershasbeentheomissionofcloudsavesfortheirgames,meaningthatabustedSwitchconsolewilltakeallyourhard-earnedprogresswithit.TopreventyouhavingtostartBreathOfTheWildalloveragain–again–thepaidservicewillbackallofyoursavefilesontoNintendo’sownserversforsafety.ThisisinkeepingwiththesavedataonSony'sPlaystationPlusprogram,thoughanyXboxOneownercanaccesscloudsavingforfree.IfyourNintendoSwitchOnlinesubscriptionlapses,yoursavefilesareprotectedforuptosixmonthsbeforetheyvanishfromthecloud.WhileNintendoSwitchOnline'scloudsavingwillbeenabledbydefaultformosttitles,developerscanchoosetooptouttopreventonlinecheating–sincereloadinganoldsavefilecouldrestoreitemssomeonehadtradedtoanotherplayer,orevenresettheironlineranking. GameslikeSplatoon2,FIFA19,andPokemonLet'sGogamesareallmissingthefeature–soonceyou'vetradedthatEevee,there'snoreloadinganoldsave.(Imagecredit:Nintendo)NintendoSwitchonlineprice:howmuchisit?PricingPlans1month:$3.99(£3.49/AU$5.95)3months:$7.99(£6.99/AU$11.95)12months:$19.99(£17.99/AU$29.95)Family(12months):$34.99(£31.49/AU$54.95)Individualuserscansignupfor$3.99(£3.49/AU$5.95)permonth,withreducedratesforlongermembershipoptions(seebox,right).There’salsoaseparate‘Family’optionthatincludesallowsupto8NintendoAccountstousethesamesubscription,for$34.99(£31.49/AU$54.95).There'salsonaturallyaseven-daytrialtosampletheonlinewaresbeforeyoubuy.PlayerswillalsobeabletobuyasubscriptionwithMyNintendoGoldPoints–arewardsservicethatgivesyouspendingtokenswhenyoubuygamesontheSwitcheShop,andcameintoeffectearlierthisyear.Bycomparison,anXboxLivemembershipcostsusers$24.99(£14.99/AU$29.95)forathree-monthsubscription,whilePlaystationPluswillputyouback$24.99(£19.99/AU$33.95).OnpricealoneNintendoSwitchOnlineisthewinner,thoughitslimitedfeaturesandlackofdedicatedserverscurrentlydon'tmatchuptocompetingservices.ButifyouownaSwitch,itmaybewhatyouneedtogetthemostoutoftheconsole.Today'sbestNintendoSwitchOnlinedealsReducedPriceNintendoSwitchOnline3...NintendoSwitchOnline3monthCDKeys$9.58$4.79ViewSeeallpricesNintendoSwitchOnline...NintendoSwitchOnline12-monthAmazon$19.99ViewSeeallpricesWecheckover250millionproductseverydayforthebestpricesThebestNintendoSwitchbundlesanddealsoutthere HenryStLeger News&FeaturesEditor HenryisTechRadar'sNews&FeaturesEditor,coveringthestoriesofthedaywithverve,moxie,andaplomb.He'sspentthepastthreeyearsreportingonTVs,projectorsandsmartspeakersaswellasgamingandVR–includingastintasthewebsite'sHomeCinemaEditor–andhasbeeninterviewedliveonbothBBCWorldNewsandChannelNewsAsia,discussingthefutureoftransportand4Kresolutiontelevisionsrespectively.AsagraduateofEnglishLiteratureandpersistenttheatreenthusiast,he'llusuallybefoundforcingShakespearepunsintohistechnologyarticles,whichhethinksiswhattheBardwouldhavewanted.BylinesincludeEdge,T3,andLittleWhiteLies. 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