Switch Online service details revealed – Cloud Saves, NES Games with online and more
Nintendo promised early May for details on the Switch’s online service and boy have they delivered. Posted to Nintendo’s website this morning is the complete list of features and inclusions that the $29.95AUD per year service will offer.
Online Play
From September, games that have online like Splatoon 2, ARMS, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and Mario Tennis Aces will all required the Online Service to play online. There will be some exceptions to this, not every game will require the online service to play online.
Cloud Saves
Finally, the long-awaited feature – backup all your saved games into the cloud. Nintendo says more details will be released before the September launch.
NES Games, with online
Nintendo will be offering up 20 NES games at launch, more games (and presumably platforms) will be added in the future. Games that will be there at the September launch include;
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Donkey Kong
- Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros.
- Balloon Fight
- Ice Climber
- Dr. Mario
- The Legend of Zelda
- Super Mario Bros. 3
Not only will you be able to play these games, but you’ll also be able to play them with a friend – even if they aren’t multiplayer. The online competitive play is there, but in the Legend of Zelda, for example, you can share your screen and have a friend take turns or help you out to play.
Switch Voice Chat App
No changes were announced to the Switch Voice Chat app system, but you will be able to use it with the NES Games.
Family Plan
The plan pricing for Nintendo Switch online only covers one user account on a Switch. If you have more than one person that uses the Switch to play online, you’re going to want a family account. You can link up to 7 accounts to be included.
Update: Australian pricing has been revealed via the Nintendo Australia website; a Family Plan will set you back $54.95 per year. See the image below for full pricing details.
Special Offers
Discounts and offers for Nintendo Switch online users
Nintendo has a full FAQ available on the website if you have any more questions.
So what do you think of the Nintendo Switch Online service? Something missing? Bummed about the chat app? Online NES Games are interesting with potential for more system is exciting. Let us know what you think in the comments.
In US pricing, its $20 for single year and $35 for family so I’m guessing that we will only pay AU$50 for a family membership- an amazing low price.
I am hoping that they’ll keep changing or adding new titles to the games…I think we may see SNES games down the track but I think they’ll sell N64 and GC games via something else.
Main thing is cloud saves. Finally.
$30AU per year.
They’re basically holding saves for ransom.
While their online services are more expensive; the Xbox (free cloud saving) and PS (USB backup) both provide a free way to keep your saves.
I know that Nintendo’s service is cheap but crappy tactics like this is what will drive people to homebrew.
Also no mention of Netflix, YouTube or a web browser and they’re sticking with that ridiculous app for voice chat?
It’s insane that it’s taken them 18 months after launch to even roll out their online service and this is what they’re offering.
It’s a shame they’re no longer doing Virtual Console but I guess subscription services are a bigger money maker than providing ROMs from past consoles which are available with every future Nintendo console. It seems a bit odd that saves on the cloud is behind a paywall, considering it’s the only option for backing up saves. The one positive thing I have to say at the moment is that it’s pretty cheap.