After months of speculation, Nintendo has finally unveiled their plans for the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. However, they revealed even more in the FAQ version of their official Nintendo Switch Online website. The biggest news to come out of their FAQ is the confirmation that you will be able to purchase a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online in multiple ways, such as the Switch eShop. Here’s what Nintendo said in full:
How do I purchase a membership for Nintendo Switch Online?
After the September 2018 launch, Nintendo Switch Online memberships will be available for purchase on Nintendo.com, in Nintendo eShop on your Nintendo Switch system, and through select retailers.
Which games require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to access online play?
Nintendo Switch games such Splatoon 2, ARMS, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Tennis Aces, and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido, will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership, but other games will vary.
How can I tell if a game requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership for online play?
We will share information on this topic at a later date.
What pricing plans are available?
There are individual memberships and family memberships (for up to 8 users). Individual memberships are available in 1-, 3-, and 12-month increments, while all family memberships are for 12 months.
If I own multiple Nintendo Switch systems, will I need a separate membership for each one?
No. Nintendo Switch Online can be used on any device by signing in with the Nintendo Account that purchased the membership.
If someone buys an individual membership, can other users on the same Nintendo Switch system use that Nintendo Switch Online membership?
Individual memberships can only be used by the Nintendo Account holder who purchased the membership.
However, you can share the Nintendo Switch Online features across all the Nintendo Accounts in a family group by purchasing a family membership.
How do I create a family group?
Starting May 15, 2018, it will be possible to create a Nintendo Account Family Group via your Nintendo Account settings. Up to eight Nintendo Accounts (including child accounts) can be linked as a family group.
Can child accounts be added to a family group and use a family membership for Nintendo Switch Online?
Yes. Any Nintendo Accounts associated with the family membership can use the service features. Parents may use Nintendo Switch Parental Controls to set restrictions for online play; restrictions for the Nintendo Online Service app can be managed with your smartphone’s parental control restriction settings.
Where can I find Parental Controls in my Nintendo Account settings?
Once logged into your Nintendo Account, click on Parental Controls in the left navigation bar.
Is Nintendo Switch Online needed for online play for the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems?
No, this service is only for Nintendo Switch systems.
When the paid service starts in September 2018, will membership plans be charged automatically?
No, Nintendo Account holders may purchase a Nintendo Switch Online membership plan at any time after launch.
If I don’t purchase a Nintendo Switch Online membership plan, will my Nintendo Switch system have any online features?
Yes. Online features including Nintendo eShop, Friend registration and management, the sharing of screenshots over social networks, Nintendo Switch Parental Controls, system and software updates, and Nintendo Switch News will not be affected by the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online paid service.
How do I set up and use Save Data Cloud backup?
More details will be released soon.
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Great I can’t wait for this.
“How do I set up and use save data cloud backup
More details will be released soon”
I bet you’ll have to pay a bit extra for this. Only small payments, but for millions of people soon adds up.
will not pay for online MK8 after 5 years of free online of it. same about splatoon. good thing i don’t give 2 shits about smash bros., arms, tennis, or the sushi game. gonna save about 300 bucks a year not subscribing. might even go back to playing my ps4.
how will you save $300/year? It only costs $20/year total.
How will you save about $300 a year not subscribing? It’s $20 a year. Am I misunderstanding your comment?
Where did you get those number figures from? Playstation Plus cost way more than Nintendo’s online yearly.
Hope the paid online flops but I think there will be too many sheep.
More details on cloud storage to come later? No issue for me (yet) as I probably won’t have a new Switch til either September or sometime after September (but before or by February) so they’ll have those details revealed long before I get a new Switch.
And I was afraid of this. Only the account with paid online can access it. Well Sony’s is better than Nintendo’s in that regard as you don’t have to pay extra for every account on the one system to use online play. If one account on the system has PS+, all other accounts on the system can play online, too. Good thing I won’t be sharing my Switch so no problem there nor am I getting my own kid one. He’s gone through 2-3 (maybe more) 2DSs in the last year, so hell no! Sucks for others, though, that will want to share their Switch or buy their kid his/her own Switch.