Nintendo's Switch Online service appears to be growing by the day – with the Japanese company revealing it now has more than 15 million paid subscribers.
During Nintendo's latest financial results briefing, president Shuntaro Furukawa touched on both the positives and negatives of the service – mentioning how new members "continue to join", but not everyone is necessarily renewing their membership:
One more point to mention is the more than 15 million accounts worldwide with a paid membership to Nintendo Switch Online, and those sales occupy a certain presence within our digital sales. But while new members continue to join, there are also those who do not renew their memberships.
According to Niko Partners senior analyst Daniel Ahmad (via Twitter), this is eight million more subscribers than this time last year. It also means "approximately" 29% of Switch owners subscribe to Nintendo's paid online service.
To ensure this growth continues, Furukawa reiterated how the company would continue to enhance the appeal of the service:
We will continue to enhance the appeal of the service to bring more features and more fun to Nintendo Switch.
Are you subscribed to the Switch Online service? What would you like to see that could enhance it? Tell us below.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 51
What would I like to see them enhance? Goodness where do I start...
More games on there virtual console would be nice, like all the ones they just trademarked...
Would love to see some themes for the home menu. Also, I would love to see some N64 games... and GameCube games... and Gameboy games...
Honestly, Switch Online has potential. It just needs more offers and deals. Plus, Nintendo needs to fix the Cloud saves. I understand the Switch Pokémon games don’t support the cloud because of Pokémon Home. But Splatoon 2 seriously needs to support the cloud because of all you’re ranks, expansion packs, and other stuff will be gone. Also, voice chat. Nintendo should add in game voice chat. Because using the Switch Online App to voice chat is like calling someone on the phone. Literally.
Again, Switch Online has potential. It just has some problems that need to get fixing.
@SpicyBurrito16 @Kalmaro
Gamecube games for free with online...yeah you are wishing way too high
I’m fine with it. For the price it doesn’t have to be anything special. I’m fine with the price
All I need are more and better games to be satisfied. Folders, voice chat, themes, and such I personally don't care about all that much, but definitely wouldn't hurt to have.
@PBandSmelly They asked what I wanted, I answered.
That number basically represents Smash Ultimate, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon 2 players.
I paid for the first year and felt I got nothing out of it, playing online with others with out chatting with them isn't very fun.
@PBandSmelly I honestly wouldn’t care if we had to pay for GameCube games on the Switch. Free or not, GameCube games on the Switch would be nice.
@SpicyBurrito16 I can agree on that (even tho I already got 60 GC games flexes)
@Kalmaro fair
Add basic online features that the Wiiu had, and maybe you'll get people to renew the membership. Also, get some better servers for christ's sake!
On my Amazon Prime free year. Online saves all I have used.
I got PS+ for $36 on Black Friday and SONY just gave me the entire BioShock collection... and that is on top of a service that actually works with tons of online games.
Nintendo needs to do lots of "enhancing"
They simply have not been adding content at the rate I expected they would. But I still consider it dirt cheap so I will keep it. I do use it.
Nintendo needs to give its subscribers something to look forward to every month. Tetris 99, that 7 day trial of Mario Tennis, and SNES games were a start but now the benefits have become too infrequent.
Exact same statement as last year. Ready for another round of disappointment
How about an easier way to continue game saves across multiple Switches.
@PBandSmelly just price it at $60. Worth it for NES,SNES,n64 and Gamecube. Then have a lower tier at $20 for people who just want to play online and play NES and SNES games
I have no real issue with the Online service, for me it's worth it. I play a lot of Tetris 99, 130 hours logged so far and I've spent 45 hours on SNES Online. It can definitely be improved though. A couple of SNES games a month is better than this new system where they randomly drop a few games every few months. Another free Tetris 99 kind of game for subscribers would be great too. My biggest complaint though is that Mario Kart and F-Zero can't be played online with randoms. Come on, what's that about!
Needs message services and voice chat. Either than those 2 issues, cant complain for the cheap price especially if you subscribed via family deal.
I’ll be one of those not renewing later this year unless it improves. I’d happily pay more for a better Retro library so give me that option. No Voice Chat is poor, and while I don’t use Cloud Saves sewing some of Nintendo’s biggest games not supporting them is hilarious. They’ve got a long way to go.
Still haven't bothered with it. Might see what it does for Animal Crossing. But, that might not even be interesting given that AC will have local co-op.
As long as I can get online, they get my 20bucks.
Maybe some actual online games? Genuinely what online games have released since we have had to pay? Mario Maker 2 and it barely works, Smash perhaps or how about basic features like being able to talk to your friends through the console with party chat.
Maybe they could speed up their incredibly slow drip feed of games added to the service, seriously is there any reason not to simply put all of their NES, SNES, N64 and even Gamecube content on immediately as PS NOW/Gamepass style subscription service?
How about NSO subscribers get 10% off eShop purchases? Or, like the PS+, NSO subscribers get additional discounts on top of sale prices available to everyone.
I know we get the NES & SNES games, but maybe an extra free game per month, or a game trial per month, would be nice. The way they did it with Mario Tennis, where you get a 7-day game trial and the game is discounted if you want to purchase. It'd be nice to have that more than once per blue moon.
An ethernet/LAN adapter included with the NSO subscription fee, because it's criminal that one isn't built into the dock.
When I had my PS4 and was PS+ member, there was never a doubt I was getting what I paid for. With NSO, I'm not sure what I'm paying for most of the time. The price point is irrelevant, because it's hardly even a service at all.
@Elvie CTR, also has a decent amount of online players each month.
The additional and exclusive content so far has been meagre and useless for many. Even though I have games that they have given extra content to I haven't needed. I like the nes and snes titles, have yet to play through most of them. Kirby NES I'm slowly working through and completed Ghouls and Ghosts with save states. Will do Link To the Past, Kirby SNES, Yoshis Island, Stunt Racer, The Legend of Zelda and Kirby Dream Course but I'll be done after that.
The one I know will be popular is Super Mario RPG, so hopefully that comes too.
Really, we need voice chat and maybe some discounts to certain games, also. That should help a lot of people stay.
How about the implementation of voice chat over all online multiplayer games and the function to direct message friends over the dashboard. Some basic communication features would be nice. I mean, it is 2020, after all 😏. It's pathetic I even have to ask for something so basic and rudimentary. Can we please also get some more n64 games released on the switch e-store. GoldenEye and Perfect Dark would be ideal with competitive matchmaking with ranked leaderboards. A release of both kotor 1 and 2 and Oblivion would be ideal also. The first 3 Splinter Cell's along with Chaos Theory's online spy vs mercs matchmaking would also be great.
Yeah I didn't renew. The online is trash.
I wonder how much of that number is free amazon accounts.
For the price, I think it's OK, especially as I share the subscription with two friends.
Haven't used the online feature that much though. The online game I've spent most time with is Splatoon 2, it works fine. But Smash on the other hand is laggy as hell. How come Splatoon 2 is a smooth experience while Smash mostly isn't?
I love T99 and that we have NES and SNES games, however, a subscription service needs to continually add content, otherwise there is not much reason to have it.
SMM2 is the game I use the most online (not multiplayer, just playing many great levels).
I feel like GBA games will likely be the next platform for NSO. The Switch is a giant GBA and those games would be the easiest to add to the service.
Include instruction manuals for the NES/SNES games. And allow button mapping. Please.
I would at least like more snes games and gba games would be a nice addition.
I am fine with how it is now. I am paying for this service out of necessity since I can't play online otherwise. Same with my PS4 and PS Plus. And I'll gladly pay 20$ a year for a service instead of 60$
Haven't really used NSO features much this NSO year (September 2019 - September 2020) so far but the renewal was pretty much free for buying Mario Maker 2. Just a bit of MK8 Deluxe, Smash Ultimate and CTR online along with playing Mario Maker 2 courses.
I wonder what 2020's NSO bundled game will be, Animal Crossing perhaps?
I play on my Switch pretty much every day without fail but to be honest very rarely play online.
I think Nintendo needs to do more in the way of free monthly games to keep me interested and renew my membership.
The SNES games were a welcome bonus when they first arrived but I can probably count on 1 had the amount of times I've played them since the novelty wore off.
Folders although you shouldn't have to pay for that. And better online servers! And new virtual console releases every six months instead of just September? I mean at this rate a new Nintendo console will be out before there done rolling out the previous generations.
Nintendo does not get online. They think that they are not behind others. But they are. They think that content on the online service should be released slowly and that it will attract customers, but it won't. They need to add stuff more frequently or add it all at once. And one reason people subscribe to Nintendo Switch online is just for cloud saves. Which is bad as it shows the online service does not offer much.
I still have it but it is absolutely shocking. The NES and SNES games have pretty much dried up and other than that it offers nothing in terms of online functionality really. It’s just a lazy service and Nintendo don’t seem that fussed about improving it.
I originally paid for 1-year-online because of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate a year ago and I just renewed my membership with the code I got from Super Mario Maker 2 eight months ago, just in time for Animal Crossing. I might buy Tetris 99 to get another 1-year-subscription for free.
Metroid Prime Trilogy + Eternal Darkness games free for all online subscribers. That'll be a good start.
All what I want is the DK trilogy for snes online.
I'm subscribed just to play online multiplayer with my friends. As a Nintendo fan who's also a PC gamer, I have very strong opinions against paid online multiplayer. Really don't like the idea of paying to play games online I already paid for.
The NES and Super NES games are a nice perk, but I still feel it can be its own paid service without touching online multiplayer.
Love the NES and SNES games. Please add more. Very rarely play online games.
I’m happy with the NSO service. I pay for the family plan & it’s a good value since I have 4 Switch consoles in my house. Could it be better? Of course, but I don’t feel as if I’m not getting the value for my money. Would definitely love to see native voice chat, more discounts for subscribers (ala PS Plus sales) and make it easier to party up with friends.
Oh yeah and themes: even if they are just solid colored backgrounds or gradient backgrounds that match the joycon options
The only reason I got the service in the first place, so that my kids could continue to play Splatoon 2, is the only reason I reupped when it expired. Don’t get much use out of it myself.
Here's a neat idea for this service: Make Online play free again and to make it even, just put a bunch of extra goodies in the service......... only a dream though...
Nintendo needs to leave me 64 reasons to keep my NS Online service.
Mine expired after Xmas and I wasn't going to renew until they added more games, only decided to renew when they added the extra SNES and NES games.
Hope its not next Xmas before they add more....
As soon as my free year is up from twitch prime special I will not be renewing unless they do more to keep me. The SNES games they added were a good start, but it's not enough at this point. They have really just done the bare minimum, while yes the price is cheap it feels like they have not put any of the money they are getting from it back into the product to push for more subs. I'd like to see more free games, more deals, and stuff like new themes added especially. Voice chat should be fixed as well, while I wouldn't really use it it's in a bad state.
29% of Switch owners with NSO (seemingly that's not counting Twitch Prime users) isn't bad at all compared to 38% of PS4 owners having PS Plus.
Really if Nintendo improves their services but maintains the price I feel like Nintendo might be able to rocket ahead of PS Plus percentagewise.
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