P1044604
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Update: Nintendo's official translation of the Q&A has now been released and differs subtly from VGC's earlier translation, specifically with regards to the proportion of Nintendo Switch Online users in the US who have upgraded to the Expansion Pack tier.

Nintendo's translation specifically highlights that the ratio of Expansion Pack members (versus overall NSO subscribers) is "especially high" in the US compared to other regions, meaning that territory has the most users subscribed to the higher-tier service.

Here's the direct quote from Shuntaro Furukawa from the relevant section of the Q&A:

The number of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members is steadily increasing, and its share among the overall Nintendo Switch Online subscriber-base is gradually expanding. By region, the ratio is especially high in the United States.


Original Story [Thu 12th May, 2022 13:30 BST]: Speaking at an investor Q&A in Japan this week — translated for VGC by Robert Sephazon — Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said that the number of subscribers using Nintendo Switch Online has "gradually" increased since September 2021, and that "most" Nintendo Switch Online users in North America have already upgraded to the Expansion Pack.

When the new tier was added, many of you voted in our poll to tell us the price was a little too high, and the reveal video was building up a high number of dislikes. But Furukawa believes that things like the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass and Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC have helped, alongside the Missions and Rewards system.

At the conference Furukawa stated that he wants to keep that number high, and to do that, he wants to expand the service even more, saying "we believe it is important to continue releasing software that allows players to continue enjoying, not only online play, but also enhances their overall experience."

When asked about what other additional content Nintendo would bring to the new tier, Furukawa said, “we will continue to consider the convenience for our customers as well as how well it would tie in with individual software. We will provide the best possible solution for each title.”

Nintendo has recently done this following the announcement of Splatoon 3's release date, making Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion free for any NSO Expansion Pack users, perhaps to attract players back to their flagship shooter and get them excited for the next game! And if rumours and leaks about Game Boy and GBA games coming to NSO prove to be true, this would likely be an attractive prospect to many who don't have the Expansion Pack.

We won't know the actual NSO figures until later this year, as these numbers are usually only released annually, but expanding the service more seems like a no-brainer.

Are you surprised by Furukawa's comments about the Expansion Pass? Share your thoughts with us.

[source videogameschronicle.com]