Nintendo Unveils Switch Online Prices + What Nintendo Can Do To Improve The Service

Earlier this month when we found out that Nintendo would be charging for online services, a lot of people including me were very skeptical about it, and remain so. While there is excitement for the cost, I can’t shake off that feeling that the online components almost feel like an after thought. Only one Virtual Console game a month, and you can’t even keep it after the first? Online and voice chat through a phone app? Doesn’t sound all that good, but there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel as it seems that Nintendo has offered us a pay window into what we can expect with their online subscription come Fall 2017.

1) Just in: Nintendo president Kimishima tells the Nikkei Switch's online service will be priced at 2-3,000 yen ($17.50 – $26.50) *YEARLY*.

— Dr. Serkan Toto (@serkantoto) February 1, 2017

This pricing is actually very reasonable for what the company is offering, and while not perfect, I do have a couple of ideas that could make it a must have. For one, Nintendo could make the phone app completely optional. I understand Nintendo’s thinking about convenience on the go, but it’s honestly a bit counter intuitive seeing as how you need to pull out a well charged smart phone or tablet. Might as well just connect to your friends on Skype or Discord instead. Making the console capable of voice chat and matchmaking without the use of a smart device would be very ideal, but then again Nintendo has been so mute on it, this could very well be the case.

Second thing that could be improved is the monthly free VC trials. the obvious solution is to make them free. Nintendo isn’t going to start bleeding out and going bankrupt if they give us one free VC game a month. Nintendo has thousands upon thousands of games at disposal just sitting in the dark. Doubtful that Nintendo would go this way, I’ve also come up with a second solution.

I propose that Nintendo mix things up and give us games that we aren’t expecting. How awesome would it be to get something like Uniracers or Wild Guns with the added function of online and local multiplayer. After the initial month of excitement, the game would of course lock you out of playing it, but instead of having to pay full price, you should be able to get a massive discount on the title. Now your only paying $3 for what you’d usually be paying $8-$10 for. What do you think though? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!