Nintendo Switch Online Service details revealed, launching September with family plan, 20 retro games

As previously mentioned, Nintendo held true to their word on announcing details for the Switch Online Service in early May. In a press release yesterday evening, the big questions of when and how much were finally answered!

The service will launch in September 2018, and will be required for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, ARMS, and others that currently support online play. The paid plan is as follows:

• One month: $3.99
• Three months: $7.99
• 12 months: $19.99
• Family membership (12 months): $34.99

The family membership will allow for up to eight members to use online gameplay even across different consoles. For some, this may be an attractive group offer.

Also highlighted are 10 of the 20 free NES games:

• Balloon Fight
• Dr. Mario
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Donkey Kong
• Ice Climber
• The Legend of Zelda
• Mario Bros.
• Soccer
• Super Mario Bros
• Tennis

Games in this collection will allow for online gameplay, and also functionality that allows for players to “pass the controller” to others who might be watching.

Last but not least was the detail of cloud saves, which should save a lot of gamers any headaches about having something happen to their Switch and not being able to rescue a 200-hour Breath of the Wild save file.

For complete details, the full press release is below:

 

Nintendo?s upcoming Nintendo Switch Online service is an affordable, multi-featured paid service that lets users enjoy online play for compatible Nintendo Switch games, access classic NES games with added online functionality, back up save data for most games and use additional features for the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app that will enhance the online experience for compatible games.

Nintendo revealed more information about Nintendo Switch Online, including pricing, Save Data Cloud backup and additional details about the classic NES games subscribers will be able to play when it launches in September.

• U.S. Pricing: Various price points offer a variety of affordable options for different players.
  • Individual memberships:
    • One month: $3.99
    • Three months: $7.99
    • 12 months: $19.99
  • Family membership (12 months): $34.99
    With a family membership, up to eight Nintendo Account holders will be able to use the Nintendo Switch Online service, even on different systems.
• Nintendo Entertainment System ? Nintendo Switch Online: Subscribers will have access to NES ? Nintendo Switch Online, a compilation of classic NES games. The collection will initially include 20 games, with more added on a regular basis. At launch, previously announced games Balloon Fight, Dr. Mario and Super Mario Bros. 3 will be joined by Donkey Kong, Ice Climber, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros., Soccer, Super Mario Bros. and Tennis. An additional 10 launch games will be announced in the future.For the first time ever, players will be able to enjoy these classic NES games online. Depending on the game, players can engage in online competitive or co-op multiplayer, or take turns controlling the action. Friends can even watch each other play single-player games online, and ?pass the controller? at any time. Every classic NES game will support voice chat via the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app*. It will also be possible to play these games offline.

• Save Data Cloud Backup: By using Nintendo Switch Online, a backup of Nintendo Switch save data for most Nintendo Switch games will be stored online for easy access. This is great for people who want to retrieve their data if they lose, break or purchase an additional Nintendo Switch system.
• Online Play: A Nintendo Switch Online membership will be needed to participate in co-op and competitive online features for many current and upcoming Nintendo Switch games, such as Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, Mario Tennis Aces and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido.
• Nintendo Switch Online App*: The Nintendo Switch Online smartphone application can be used to enhance the online experience for compatible games through voice chat and other features.

*The Nintendo Switch Online app is for Nintendo Account holders 13 years old or older. Persistent internet access and compatible smartphone are required. Data charges may apply.