Nintendo has just published out a new article on its official What's New news page, and it seemed pretty normal at first. 'Make the most of your Nintendo Switch' covers all the usual things you can do with your handy bit of hybrid hardware, but tucked at the bottom was a sneaky little announcement on the future of the coming Nintendo Switch Online Service and its paid multiplayer infrastructure:
“Online services and features. including online gameplay, are free until the paid Nintendo Switch Online Service launches in 2019.”
2019? Really? While the official date was largely floating around 2018, the delay to 2019 seemed like quite the surprising change to the schedule. However, moments later the page was hastily updated with almost no changes, except:
Online services and features. including online gameplay, are free until the paid Nintendo Switch Online Service launches in 2018.
Is Nintendo having a quick midnight troll? Nope, it was just an unfortunate typo. According to a tweet by YouTuber GameXplain , Nintendo confirmed it was just an error. So 2018 it is. And while we don't know exactly when the new service will launch, at least we know it'll be before the year is out.
So the Nintendo Switch Online Service is still on track for this year. What are you hoping for when the full setup is revealed and implemented? Tell us, please...
[source nintendo.com]
Comments 101
Nintendo is an industry leader in many ways. Their online services have never been one of those ways.
And the 2018 award for breaking news in video game journalism goes to...
I just want cloud saving, actual usernames, and virtual console. Achievements would be nice but I'm not expecting that.
@Julien Beat me to it.
I'm not sure I totally buy that it won't get delayed. We know next to nothing about the service.
This is embarrassing. There's no reason why they can't manage put to an online service in this day and age. It's 2018. Xbox Live launched over 16 years ago.
Delay it forever, for all I care. I would prefer not to pay money just to play Splatoon and ARMS online.
i still don't understand why people are eager to pay for online..i mean, if you think that nintendo's online will be magically a lot better the day they flip the pay switch you're delusional. nothing will change except that you have to pay for it.
The delay hasn't been officially announced yet.
Nintendo's Italian website last month said it was coming Autumn 2018 before changing it back to a vague 2018. Like this case here it may just have been a typo or perhaps not, maybe it has been delayed. Either way it's embarrassing.
Slow AF news day. Looks like we blew our wad on the "mini" Direct.
Nintendo Switch requires you to pay up to play online.
#DoNotForgiveNintendo #DoNotForgiveNintendo #DoNotForgiveNintendo #DoNotForgiveNintendo
I just hope they offer the right tools so you can play with your friends on Fifa 2018 and every game. "Free" NES games are a plus but we are in 2018 now. Hope its not too little, too late.
@manu0 Virtual Console, My Nintendo support. It's expected these things will come with paid online. In the meantime, let's just enjoy the free access.
I hope to get a more feature rich dashboard or home screen with the online service. Voice chat through the headphone/mic jack. Leave the phone app for voice chat in TV mode and or enable bluetooth headset use.
Good news : You still can enjoy Free Online features right now before you start to pay once Nintendo officially set it.
Nintendo desprerate needs more good online games before the payment service comes in. They're still fears that games like Splatoon 2 or ARMS will soon become a desert online game, unless something really big happens to online service. A free Virtual Console games isn't one of them.
This is embarrassing.
I just want Good Online service no lagging,disconnections and such,etc, when playing mulitplayers matches of course,NetFlix!!! Already,Twitch,YouTube,and a Sick Web Browser app,Rainway app,Virtual Console and Nintendo classics games.
Why can't Nintendo just admit that they don't know how to do an online service and just let us play for free? They are swimming in money after all now. Just give us Virtual Console, add a browser, bring in Rainway, Netflix, and YouTube and everyone will be happy.
Make up your sodding minds, Nintendo. Either release something or not. Sheesh!
This part in the article i was not expecting
"hastily updated with almost no changes, expect:"
You mean except.
Spelling correction is a curse and a blessing, ain't it.
I accept that.
@DTMOF84 It depends if the headphone port on the switch supports mic in. Mic over bluetooth on the other hand is totally plausible.
I don't even have an opinion on this anymore. But maybe that is just my opinion...
An entire post for nothing. What a good read.
Anyway, they could just give up and accept they don't know how to do it and make some partnership with some big company. Preferable one of the competitors of both microsoft and sony.
Maybe amazon, maybe Google.
Just keep nvidia software away from my nintendos.
They’re going to need to fix a few things before they can justify the charge (for those who think that it’s going to be the same exact service, with or without the charge: don’t be daft). They need to FINALLY embrace a non-stupid way to voice chat, streamline the eshop, incorporate a real Virtual Console (I love the idea of playing old classics with friends across the country. It’s a great idea, but I seriously hope that the service isn’t the same NES-N64 diet that they’ve been serving for eleven years now).
I agree, though, that it’s about time for 2018 Nintendo to make some sort of announcement so they can finally stop looking like 2006 Nintendo, as far as online is concerned.
And I’m not silly enough to whine about $20 a year, provided that they earn it.
There are no forgotten typos in the internet age, the internet never forgets.
And yeah, it was probably just a typo. Anything with the wrong year written during the month of January should be given a free pass.
The real question is - how long can Nintendo keep writing "Coming soon" for Switch rewards on MyNintendo?
https://my.nintendo.com/reward_categories
I am not so eager to pay for online service. Hey, for all I care they can set the payed service in 2020. I am fine with what there is available.
This exact situation happened a few weeks ago leading me to believe that there is an older draft document that's being copy-pasted in online articles without proper scrutiny. This is less about Nintendo insiders shifting strategies... and more about sleepy website devs.
One thing I'll say in defence of Nintendo's paid online strategy is they're following the same tack they have with the Switch... they've found a company that knows what they're doing and left the heavy online lifting to them. DeNA is a well known company that's worked with Cygames, Disney & I believe own/run both Anime Box & MyAnimeList... popular, well run services.
Would like more than just an old NES game as my monthly freebie though - considering Nintendo have such a huge back catalogue I'd like at least something 16bit or above.
Phew! Glad it’s just typo.
Don’t play online that much so it’s no big deal to me when it finally arrives- and all I care about is what the plan is going to be with the virtual console service- this is like Chinese water torture!! Thanks the good lord for Hamster!!! Without their efforts, this would REALLY be painful!!! And why do they insist that the classic game service go hand in hand with the online service?? I view them as completely different console features! Good thing for Nintendo the Switch is kicking ass right now!!
Meh. I bet they gradually walk it back and/or limit it to the Netfix-style back catalogue Virtual Console thing. I don't really like the idea of having to pay Nintendo to use my own internet connection, and the additional features they're supposedly rolling out sound more like "nice to have" items rather than necessities. They probably realize that it's not worthwhile.
The online will probably be worse than the Wii U.... Like Reggie says "We put the Nintendo twist on it" Well so far it's POOP! The app sucks and no native voice chat on the system.. I'm seriously considering not paying for it..
Just give me Virtual Console, Vudu app, Amazon app, maybe even a good browser !
Yeah it was a typo, they would've officially said something via Twitter or something, otherwise.
Are people really desperate to PAY for online gaming?
Just buy a PS4 and have fun with that paywall.
Nintendo's online service is gonna be something that people want but will complain when they get it. Despite it only being $20 a year.
@wiggleronacid Took the words right out of my mouth. I NEED virtual console in my life, NOW!
@thesilverbrick I'm with you. I own 3 Switches 1 for me 1 for my wife and 1 for my kids and it's hard to imagine a scenario where I'll prefer to pay the fee 3 times more than get the current minimal service for free. There's no voice chat baked in: i know, but I have apps on my phone that will let me chat with my friends while I play and my speaker is super loud. What about online multiplayer NES and SNES (I'm not excited about going back to when 2-player meant taking turns handing the controller back and forth and SNES Super Mario Kart doesn't hold up well at all)
I would love to see Nintendo add trophies from games to online profiles
@10-zx so I’m guessing you don’t have a Playstation or an Xbox.
@Zyph It does support mic. It’s listed as headphone/mic jack on the specs page for it.
https://www.nintendo.com/switch/features/tech-specs/
@Fred13 There would have to be a massive overhaul of the online structure, some amazing incentives and many, many more killer online games for me to feel like any fee is justified. As it is, there really isn’t anything worth paying for.
I highly doubt we'll get a web browser when the online services are announced for security purposes. It's just too easy to exploit consoles & handhelds through the browser. However, I do believe we'll get online chat through the Switch itself and I also think we'll get some sort of friend lobby/message system... these are the basic quality of life things Nintendo is likely keeping close to it's chest because many WON'T expect them from Nintendo.
Much like with the Direct Mini, I think they're deliberately reducing expectations so that whatever they announce isn't an auto-letdown.
I'm also betting a slew of online games will be announced at the same time as the paid online service. I wonder if an F-Zero Online with 32 player races would close down some complaints (this is just idle speculation, though it WOULD grab some headlines!!)
@thesilverbrick I agree with you, but I don't. I'm also hoping it's postponed indefinitely as I don't want to pay for it. However, when the day comes that I either have to quit having family Splatoon sessions or pay $60 I'll pay $60 so that the 3 of us can keep playing together. If not for Splatoon I'd be with you. I play Mario Kart online every once in awhile, but not enough to justify it.
@retro_player_22 Nintendo already admitted they can't do a decent online service... that's why they partnered themselves with a large online specialist company to handle it for them.
@rjejr I just had over 300 gold points expire 2 weeks ago.At least they had the courtesy to warn me beforehand that I should spend them before they do.The problem is with no available Switch rewards what could I spend them on?I could have used some of them to receive a discount on some Wii U games I already own but even if I did want to be that stupid,the system wouldn't let me purchase those games again as I already own them digitally.With the Switch's 1 year anniversary coming up in 7 weeks ,those that bought the console and its games at launch will see their points start to expire too.Those that are new to Nintendo or those who've returned after a lapse will have signed up for that rewards scheme in good faith.They've gone to the effort of .making an account yet Nintendo haven't gone to the effort of adding anything for them to spend their coins on.It's one thing doing it to the faithful,we're a hardy bunch who'll keep coming back regardless but it's not wise to do that to new or returning customers.If nothing is in place come March then I suspect we'll be reading more about it.
I thought their online service is launching next month?
@faint
Does a PlayStation 2 count?
@Fred13 If rumors are to be believed, The online service will cost about 20 bucks a year, and I imagine that’s per account. So in your case, you’d be paying $60 for the entire year for your family to play unlimited online games on three separate consoles. It’s not ideal, but on other platforms, annual subscriptions to online services cost $60 per account. It could be worse. Granted, it’s always better when it’s free.
@Lozzen You also NEED a compliment for that awesome avatar! Classic game!
I am curious to know more about the service, but I’m in no rush, yep.
The 8 and 9 are right next to each other. It happens and it's not like spell check flags that kind of thing. It's like using "there" instead of "their" - it's not spelled wrong, so the computer doesn't flag it, and you only catch it if you re-read your post closely.
To be fair, they should, but again, small mistake it happens.
Real breaking news would be Nintendo actually giving us some details on what this mythical service will entail.
Gucci gang wants VC!
Its January, we all have to reprogram our brains to write the correct year on stuff around about now.
I doubt they'll have stable servers, and voice chat like Live does. So my wishlist would be a Netflix like service of old games, better storefront, cloud saves, solid matchmaking, a messaging service to at least text friends, and an account service that ties my games and purchases to my account, not console. Relevant rewards and coupons would be nice too. Also, please, please have implemented folders by the time this hits. I need them bad, and others do too.
They are better off delaying. Chances are whatever the paid service is will have some weird caveat and that would put a damper on the positive reception/sales the Switch has.
I'm not worried about this right now. Nintendo doesn't have the online capability of Microsoft or Sony, but they don't have all the backing for it either. They are building it their way. It will launch when it's ready, and it will most likely be pretty good. The Switch is a strong system so far, with no signs of slowing down. It's just one more big thing in the pipeline to look forward to.
I think one of two things are happening here: either they are having trouble negotiating licensing for the VC or they are wrestling with the pricing model. Also, Nintendo is flying high on the best console launch ever, why mess it up if this service goes sideways.
Never sure how certain Ninty are about dates and deadlines. Not sure how much it matters what they say.
@Dom - 2nd Paragraph, just before the quote - "Expect" is a Typo? it should be "Except" ? ( see how easy it is lol)
No big deal
What’s the problem exactly?
Getting seriously worried about whether vc and cloud saves will actually happen. Vc is a massiv money spinner its a no brainer unless they are sttuggling getting gamecube games to run on switch
This is pathetic. They have the worlds biggest selling system right now and piles of cash. You would assume they would ahve teams working around the clock to get this done and online. The whole chat/app thing was a big enough joke but a possible 2019 launch is going to hurt them.
@Djgoa Why would they even care if that was the reason? They would simply launch all other platforms first.
@SanderEvers I agree with you. That is what I meant by they don’t want to mess up their current success.
Surely, Nintendo will talk about their online service during their late January shareholder meeting...
I don't have high hopes for the paid online future.
@Freek
“Spelling correction is a curse and a blessing, ain't it?”
FTFY
@Spanjard people are assuming that the paid online service will be some amazing upgrade over what they currently get for free. I think they’re in for a disappointment.
Nintendo is going to make a 'BIG' announcement soon.
What's is this 'BIG' announcement? Ubisoft's employee seems to know.
https://twitter.com/TW_PhantomLord/status/953392618683191296
I think they will launch the Online Service at the same time with Virtual Console. The reason that the service is free now is to create a acceptable userbase for their online supported games (Splatoon 2, Mario Kart, Arms, Fifa, etc.). Once the userbase is big enough (which I think it is now with the current Switch sales), they will roll it out.
I hope that MyNintendo points could be used for something like 'a month free Nintendo Online' or something. Otherwise I wouldn't know why we still don't have any Switch rewards yet!
@Nincompoop well spotted. “The Internet is going to explode”? Hmmmmmm.
I don't play online all that much, occasionally I do but not enough to justify a monthly subscription alone. ( I cancelled my PS plus for the same reason)
I'm hoping with the Nintendo online that there are real incentives to subscribe, I know there's talk of Free NES games but in reality I'm hoping for a Virtual Console Netflix style subscription where we have access to a whole back catalogue of games that can be played anytime on demand as long as we have an active subscription.
It's all guess work though at this stage, the reality is that we know nothing at all at the moment.
they spent years on developing the stupid miiverse, it will take another decade to develop real online services
the only solution to play switch games with friends like FIFA is local wifi multiplayer
I really wish the Internet didn't get so jumpy each time an error or mistranslation occurs (especially as we know Nintendo won't be making these announcements in this way).
Also, I'm pretty sure that Nintendo's online offering is what we are currently playing. The longer they take to charge us, the better.
Love typo articles!
Lol, Nintendo knows its ass to ask money for their service. That's why they are delaying it all the time!
Some information would be nice nearly a year into launch , although I'm not sure there are enough online experiences at this point to justify the expense.
@rjejr Agreed! The My Nintendo Switch rewards need to come by March otherwise that whole thing is beyond a total joke. My Nintendo has been one notch above an utter load of nothing since launch. With Switch rewards that include meaningful discount offers on a broad range of games, Nintendo can at least justify the existence of this service. Honestly, My Nintendo has been one of my biggest disapppontments with the company in recent years. Such a wasted opportunity to actually do something meaningful and rewarding for your customers.
Not only does it seem they can't give us the online service we want but they can't even get the information on the service right?
There's simply no way the online service wont be launching until 2019. I'd even say its likely the online service will come before E3, with a probable Direct preceding it.
Nintendo are not going to let people use online for free for 2 years. Its just bad business.
@Nincompoop All aboard the hype-train! Got my curiosity piqued 😉
Big headline: Nintendo Keeps Changing The Nintendo Switch Online Service Launch Date!
Cue loads of comments and outcry.
Member spots it's a typo on Gamexplain.
Article stays up, people just read the headline and carry on crying.
Nintendolife gets clicks and drama, win win!
@OorWullie This is a really good point. If Nintendo don't offer meaningful Switch rewards on My Nintendo by March and people's gold coins begin to expire based on purchases made for Switch software - the company deserves to be given harsh criticism. I love Nintendo but My Nintendo has been truly terrible.
I don't own enough online games for this to make a difference to me. Never got into Splatoon and ARMS just looks annoying to me.
@wiggleronacid I am with you on the cloud saves, that's so critical..
it really depends on the games they plan to release, having a paid for online service is fine but it needs to be a lot more robust than what is currently on offer for free and we need a lot more multiplayer games on the Switch for this to be worth it, currently only 3 Nintendo IP's take advantage of online gaming, the multiplats like Doom or Fifa i understand come with some drawbacks to go online.
If the online service was launched now with whats on offer from the games available, it would be a huge mistake on Nintendo's part, they need to address this storage issue too.
I don't want to go there (yet), but I hope that Nintendo does not fall back into complaceny here, with the recent sucess of the Switch. Certainly when it comes to the OS, their online infrastructure and ecosystem and value-additative features like a proper VC or a rewards scheme.
Nintendo is not just behind the curve in this regard. It's not even on the curve. Yesterday I visited a friend. We wanted to play some X1. Hence, I activate my controller, which is linked to my profile on the system, which is then automatically logged in, then I start cuphead, which automatically syncs my previous savegame, and within like 20 seconds we can basically get to playing co-op, where I had left of days earlier.
That is great. Not only would this not be as conveniet on the Switch, it would imho be impossible to facilitate. I get that in the case of the Switch, I could have brought that with me and hooked it up, but if that is the argument, then the Switch just replaced one feature with another - it did not add value on top of existing concepts, it just replaced one with another. That's my point, Nintendo should play to it's strength, and bring new ideas into the fold, obviously, yes, but that does not mean, that old ideas should be abandoned just becasue ... y'know they've been done before. There is nothing great about Friendcodes that I could discern. That was an old idea as well, why bring that back? The notion of adding a smartphone into the mix just to get voice chat ... that is still utterly insane, so what's the deal here?
Plenty of work to be done for Nintendo, better get to it. It's easier to loose one's edge than to regain it.
A right mess.
This service appears to be strongly tied with the VC, the prices seem resonable so I'm quite happy to have it sooner than later.
@thesilverbrick I agree 100%. Thinking about having to purchase an online subscription for each of our Switches fires me up.
I'm about to leave my Sony Plus Subscription run out this month.
@LeRaposa Why do you want a paid online service? Did you know that the Switch has an online service, and it has been free?
@OorWullie I have 88 gold coins but we only got our Switch Oct 27th so we have plenty of time. I was keeping track of my 300 plat coins expiring every month but I kind of lost interest and stopped caring awhile back. I think I actually stopped caring about the same time they took Miiverse away and replaced it with, well they never actually replaced Miiverse did they, but I was getting coins for using that and the eShop each week.
Worst thing about MyRewards is Club Nintneod, for all ti's faults, was so much better. Well that and the timing launching MyRewrds near Switch and having no Switch rewards as you mentioned. It's amazing that people get paid to put out this garbage yet still keep their jobs. Nitneod really should have just NOT had MyRewards, it's doing their reputation more harm than good. And they are apying people to update the website - I actually like the website - but nobody is going there b/c there is no reason to. Except to watch our coins expire without being used.
Your situation is much worse than mine though, that's a lot of gold coins. Your point about new to Nintendo Switch owners is valid, they are probably like WTF? Why even bother? There will be a lot of annoyed Day 1 Switch owners watching all their points expire in March, hopefully Nintnedo does something for them. Frankly I'm still annoyed that the Digital Deluxe 10% Promotion went away and Ninteod never even replaced. Considering how poorly Wii U was selling I presumed they would expand the 10% off to ALL Wii U owners after that Dec 31 period ended. I had been buying eShop games to get points and to use points up until then, then I stopped, b/c I'm easily offended. DDP went away, Club Nintendo went away, why buy?
Nintendo gets an A for gaming making, A- for mobile hardware, but it's all downhill after that.
@Lroy I actually JUST wrote a reply to that exact sentiment in the post above this one, #100. Feel free to read it if you'd like, but it's almost exactly word for word what you just said, only much much longer b/c I tend to be long-winded.
@Marshi Depends, the Splatoon devs were talking about keeping Splatoon play free for a while even after the service launches... I think in addition to actual setbacks, Nintendo is probably having some second thoughts on a business level about adding a paywall to games they're trying to grow the player base on. Especially with Splatoon in the West, and their already announced price point isn't quite the cash cow the other two platforms charging 3x more have built.
@LeRaposa Well, Sony's online is still pretty garbage, and Microsoft had the online services thing already set up for their business oriented services so they had quite a head start. But it is pretty strange that they have had so many setbacks that they're pushing a revenue stream back over a year.
@Yorumi More specifically I'm convinced a lot of what they do with Splatoon matchmaking outside Japan involves managing the small player base and keeping them engaged. Already when I play leagues I frequently run into people I already know. There's just not that many people playing and the paywall could kill it off in the West at least until Switch sales really balloon over time. I imagine that's a worry.
Yeah I really agree. 3 months after launch as intended, you get the early adopters that already knew only. A year+ later......that's a disaster. Yes, every game in the fine print says "online features may require subscription" but nobody reads that. At this point its far too late to mandate it. They'll have to introduce it with some big online game later on, OR do it like XBL and PSN were in the PS360 era where it's NOT required for multiplayer, but simply gives you benefits like discounts, freebies, and unlocks features like cloud saves, totally optional otherwise. Sony/MS waited for PS4/X1 to make it mandatory.....I think Nintendo really has no choice but to do the same with Switch now.
When you do start the paid service. Nintendo please make the rewards better cause at the moment they are awful. Also some kind of better answer to voice chat wouldn't go amiss and virtual console to, i know i'm not asking for much lol.
oh and also the 1st free game i want mario kart the first ever one online!. ye i am asking for to much now.
If I have to pay 20 bucks a year to play online and pay for game storage that's fine, but When I purchase Mario, Mario 3, Mario World... AGAIN it all better be transferable to another system and tied to my profile.
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