Nintendo has revealed that the Splatoon 2 Nintendo Switch console bundle, which usually comes with the neon pink and green coloured Joy-Con and a copy of the game, is returning to Japan in a couple of weeks' time. This time around, though, it will also include a free 90 day trial of Nintendo Switch Online.
The bundle will release on 21st July in Japan, and as you can see below, one of the included items is a "Nintendo Switch Online personal plan 3 month (90 days) ticket" which can be used from the online service's start date in September.
This suggests that we could start to see Nintendo Switch Online codes be included with new systems as we get closer to launch, possibly becoming the norm for any Switch purchase worldwide. At the very least, we'd imagine that a code will be provided in any bundles that feature an online-based game such as Splatoon 2 so that players can get the most out of their shiny new game.
Do you think this will become standard for console bundles? Let us know if you'd like to see a similar deal in your region with a comment below.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 43
I'd consider it very very likely that new Switch purchases will continue to arrive with a 90-day trial.
The system already has quite a few free online-centric games that would suffer greatly from new adopters not being able to test them out for... well, free.
Ugh I never buy these bundles because of 1 single reason, in japan they get a physical copy of the game in box in the west a voucher.
Good news
And....
The Switch Tablet body is still Black.
Time to Color Up with Shell replacement from Ebay !
@jockmahon Mind your language.
I hope they'll have something in store for us early adopters as well.
@Nego Unlikely, but it would be nice.
Darn. I assume this means they are actually going to release the online pay system. I was hoping they'd delay into perpetuity.
So it’s happening. I would of thought it’s gonna be delayed again
@Medic_alert @Nego
You got to play online for free for over a year, that’s your reward for adopting early.
It's so cheap that it feels basically free anyway. $30 (AUD) per year for online services for a system that I've used daily since the day it came out and will continue to use daily feels like nothing.
@Equinox I don't think it's a concern. It's less than two quid a month, and kids can play on a family subscription.
In the future they will think that 3 months of free trial is an excellent freebie, those of us who bought the Switch since last year has over a year of free online service.
@Medic_alert wouldn’t surprise me if accounts created before the service goes live get a free few months too. That said, we’ve all had free online for a while now even if the full service suite hasn’t been available so we’ve done ok.
@Rayquaza2510 FWIW, I bought my daughter the Splatoon 2 bundle from the NUK store, and it came with a physical copy....
@Pod I think we may see trial codes included with physical copies of online games too. That was at least a major thing that Microsoft did for Xbox Live, you had 1 month free trial for creating a gamertag, console bundles had trial codes (don't remember how long) and online games had 14 day trial codes.
@Rayquaza2510 the consoles are not region locked, you could import one if you wanted a physical copy of the game.
Can’t wait for the smash bros bundle in the West
I'm patiently waiting for the Smash Bros. Special Edition Switch that Nintendo has yet to announce.
This seems reasonable for the most part. Hopefully this becomes more of a norm.
Swap splatoon 2 for Mario Odyssey and you have a deal!
I have no idea if they still do it, but I believe Microsoft did this for years with the Xbox and Xbox 360. Strikes me as a good idea. Unlike some people, even on this site, I want the paid service to succeed and thrive. I want it to do well in the hope that it doing well encourages Nintendo to support it with regular new features and/or content.
The early adopters had a gimped online service. Let us try the new, improved online experience for three months for free as well - it’s a new service and I’d like to see if it’s worth it, without being disadvantaged for purchasing my system early
@Equinox I don't particularly think finding a match in Splatoon2 would be hard for awhile, with it's popularity and the general low cost of Nintendo online per year. Plus, I don't think it's region locked? At least I (in NA) run into players from Japan all the time
I feel all of us switch owners deserve 90 days free as well. Not just the new buyers.
@Bondi_Surfer agreed.
@HappyRusevDay I don't really see "being able to play for free for a year" and gaining access to legacy content AND being able to play online being on the same level.
Remember that the Switch Online Service is not just about playing games online.
What a lot of companies don't understand nowadays is that by wooing new, potential customers to their services with free gifts, they are potentially making the long-time supporters feel like they do not matter. "Thanks for the long support but we want to play with these new people now."
I suspect at least a 14-30 day trial code in all future Switches. Microsoft did that with its X360s and several games and look how ot worked out for them. The best way is to get people to experience the fun and that will entice them to pay up.
@Medic_alert your one month of service is worth $1.67. And you've just gotten a free year + if you purchased when the Switch came out. Skip Starbucks for one day and you'll be ahead.
@Uncensored You've got 2 months free starting now. Why complain!
@Grant007
Are you the person that writes all those online finance articles on how to take better care of your finances? They always start with #1, cut Starbucks, save a bajillion dollars a year. If only I drank overpriced coffee so I could cut it from my budget. (Spoiler, I don't drink coffee at all.)
@cleveland124 It's the point that matters buddy!
@Grant007
Buying things just because they're cheap is a terrible point. According to Nintendo there are 2,537 games under $20 on the eshop. Do you own all them because they are cheap? In fact $60 isn't alot of money. On the eshop it says there are 6,697 games available. Do you own all of those since they are cheap? Or do you make decisions based on the value you get out of them to spend your money? Some people will see the value in the online program and some won't. It's a fact it's cheap. Still doesn't mean it's worth it to everybody and people shouldn't be shamed because they don't want to spend $20 (more realistically $35 assuming you aren't the only one that plays your Switch).
I'm pretty sure nobody is arguing they can't afford it or that they need advice on how to save $20 a year. But since you brought it up. Here's a way to save $20 a year. Don't pay for Nintendo Online. And since it's more about the point than providing a realistic example, don't buy that Yacht this year. That'll save you $10 million. You're welcome for the advice.
@cleveland124 We are talking about complaining about one month's service worth approx $1.67 when they have had over a year of free online service already. I don't quite catch your drift.
@Grant007
My drift is an item being cheap is not a reason for purchasing. You are answering a question nobody is asking when you are trying to help them save $20 a year. It's possible to both have the means to buy the service and not think the service is worth the means. How long the service was free for is really irrelevant to whether you should pay for it in the future.
@cleveland124 I completely agree with what you are saying but I don't understand why you are saying this to me. My original comment was in response to the quote below!
" be a nice bonus for all the people who have been on board from the beginning to have a free period with the new service, even if only a month."
This person is complaining that new systems come with 3 months free even though the service has been free for over a year now. Yet they want more free time because systems sold in 2 months will get a few months free!
My point is that the service had been free all along and that one month of service they want free only costs $1.67!
@Grant007 not the same service without the classic games. Miss out on that because I'm loyal enough to be there from the beginning?
@Uncensored That doesn't really make sense because you haven't missed out on anything for being there since the beginning and infact you've gotten FREE online play. The 3 months free online service is a PERK just like any other promotion that cell providers and new car dealers offer when releasing a new product or service. Your complaining about $5 or the cost of the online service for 3 months. Go buy another Switch if you want to save the $5 and if you think the classic games are worth the $5 for 3 months then pony up or shutup. It's that simple. I swear Nintendo people complain about the most trivial things and are cheap to boot.
@Grant007 but I don't play online and I just want the classic games so in reality I got nothing. It's ok for you to be wrong.
@Uncensored Awww poor little guy! You don't use the online portion and are getting nothing for free. So pathetic. Maybe if you ask mommy and daddy really nice they will get you the $20 service for your big birthday or Christmas! I feel so so bad for you.
@Grant007 maybe if I'm a good boy! Yeah?
@Uncensored Just remember to clean your room and take out trash for your parents and Im sure you will be fine.
This is a nice gesture from Nintendo:). Praise to them /. There is one thing that needs adressing though. During the wait for the online service to launch, users save data is still at risk, which is affecting fans enjoyment of the the console(me included). Were Nintendo to add SD card save backup before the online service launches, that problem would be solved.
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