Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online is the official online service for Nintendo Switch.

Unlike Nintendo Network, the Nintendo Switch Online service requires a paid subscription, albeit for a limited time general online gameplay was available for free. Many Nintendo Switch games with online features require a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription, but various free-to-play titles can be played online without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

The Nintendo Switch Online originally soft-launched in some territories in March 2017, with general online play available for free. In its January 2017 presentation, Nintendo called it a trial period for early adopters, as they initially intended to launch Nintendo Switch Online with all its intended features for late 2017. In June 2017, Nintendo has revealed some features they intended to include with service, but also confirmed they extended the trial period into 2018.

The Nintendo Switch Online app was launched on July 21, 2017, featuring voice chat, alongside Splatoon 2. The service fully launched in many territories on September 19, 2018.

An improvement known as Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack was launched on October 25, 2021 for an additional cost; offering Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis emulation, as well as free access to downloadable content in certain games. Both an individual membership and family membership is available.

Features

• Users can download software that contains a collection of Nintendo Entertainment System or Super Nintendo Entertainment System games. It is updated regularly with local multiplayer and restore point (fast saving of game sessions) support.
  • Users will have the ability to purchase a premium subscription to access Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games starting late October 2021.
• Tetris 99 is a Nintendo produced game in which up to 99 players compete in Tetris at the same time. Originally there was only one mode, but additional modes were introduced in an update.

Classic Games

Main article: List of Nintendo Switch Online games

Availability

On September 19, 2018, the Nintendo Switch Online service was officially available in 43 markets, which include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States (including U.S. territories like Puerto Rico).

On April 23, 2019, the service officially launched in South Korea and Hong Kong.

In July 2019, Nintendo of Europe granted special access to the European Nintendo Switch Online service for users using Nintendo Accounts set in Israel. TorGaming, Nintendo's official distributor in Israel, allowed this process possible via the official Nintendo Israel website and in some stores where users can pay in shekels for a 12-month subscription and receive a download code. Users can redeem this download code via a limited variant of the Nintendo Switch eShop. The service is not officially available in Israel specifically however.

References

Nintendo online services

• Famicom Network System (Famicom, 1988)  • Satellaview (Super Famicom, 1995) (scheduled satellite broadcast/download, but not Internet)  • Randnet (Nintendo 64DD 1999)  • Mobile System GB (Game Boy Color/Game Boy Advance w/Mobile GB Adapter and mobile phone, 2001)  • Online Nintendo GameCube gameplay (Nintendo GameCube, w/GameCube Broadband Adapter/Modem Adapter, 2002)  • Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (Wii, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL optionally w/Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, Nintendo DS & DSi Browser, 2006)  • Nintendo Network (Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Web, 2012/3)  • Nintendo Switch Online (2018; Nintendo Switch)  • Websites (Nintendo web browser games)

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