Nintendo is slowly but surely updating its Nintendo Switch Online apps to new servers, OatmealDome has spotted.
The NES NSO app has been updated to version 7.0.0, which converts it from NEX (the old servers) to NPLN (the new servers).
This follows in the footsteps of the Genesis / Mega Drive NSO app, which was also recently updated to the NPLN servers.
NEX dates back to the 3DS and powered a few launch apps, like the console's Friends List. Splatoon 3 was updated to NPLN back in 2022.
"A few people have asked what the benefits to NPLN are," says OatmealDome. "For the NSO apps in particular, the benefits are really more for the devs than the players. The biggest player-visible benefit I can think of is that internet connections with poor NAT types (C, D, or F) are now compatible. The benefits are significantly easier to see in a "real" game like Splatoon 3, which uses NPLN features extensively. For example, stuff like the Big Run egg counter and Pools would have been more difficult to implement with NEX (used by Splatoon 1 / 2)."
Speaking at the end of November, OatmealDome says that the NPLN servers have slowly been rolling out over the past few years, but it's unknown if Nintendo will convert games (rather than apps) to the new servers.
[source bsky.app]
Comments 17
Neat! I guess this is just more evidence that the NSO apps will continue to have legs in the future. I’ve only used the online functions a short amount of times, most recently for a run in Four Swords and while it wasn’t unplayable, it could have been more stable. Hope we see this soon coming to the GBA app.
“The biggest player-visible benefit I can think of is that internet connections with poor NAT types (C, D, or F) are now compatible”
This is huge for me, I’ve struggled with the NAT type for awhile. I wish this would get implemented for smash through.
@Kyloctopus Huh, I recently played some Four Swords online (with 4 players), and it ran like a dream. But we all live in the same country, so it was far from the worst case scenario.
I'm guessing they are updating them so to get those ready for Switch 2 as the successor will only support NPLN server and not NEX.
Like others here I wouldn't be surprised if it were part of the preparations for its continuation on Switch's successor but anyway, happy to hear it!
Not totally on topic, but it would be nice to buy these games separately from the app. Just thought I’d mention it again.
While on topic of NSO, I wish they would make the NSO apps check in automatically, or at least if I check one in, check them all in. I got burned one time on a flight because I hadn’t checked in all my NSO apps and therefore couldn’t play games in them because it couldn’t verify my subscription.
Am I missing something? Is there a way to just check in with all the NSO apps in one go?
@JDCII I doubt we'll ever see an eshop like the Wii days ever again.
We are more likely to see Sega dump the whole Genesis catalog up on NSO far before you can buy super hang-on by itself.
@JDCII
I’ve been saying that for a while and I’ll say it again yes, yes and yes!
@RejectedAng3L
If Sony is giving players a choice to buy their retro games or play them under a subscription, why can’t Nintendo offer the same option?
@Don Who cares what Sony are doing.
How about some new graphic choices? Like smooth or the scanline changes without the scanlines.
@Dee123 well their classic game service is doing a better job at the moment, you can buy the games ala carte if you don't want to sub. And while the selection is smaller now, they're adding them more consistently than Nintendo has been. I think it's fair to care about that and want to ability to buy the games too.
@Orpheus79V Agreed - I'm sad there's not more of the old PS3-era catalog, but I have been impressed by the recent emulation on the PS5 (and the Switch for that matter). We may finally be exiting the legacy content dark ages of the late 2010s and early 2020s, in favor of something more akin to the late 2000s. I certainly hope Nintendo follows Sony's lead and starts offering standalone, connection-free ways to access their older titles.
@JDCII I'm afraid we are moving into a world where entertainment is rented, nothing is owned, and everything is a subscription.
I was hoping this update would mean better online connections in general, but oh well. Trying to play some of the N64 games online with friends is abysmal
@Don in many ways they do. In more ways they don't. But the fact you can get an $80 handheld that's capable of playing everything up to 5th generation, and some beyond that, load it full of roms you own and your off to the races. Many of those actually have far superior online connectivity and options on graphical display.
NSO is so dad's in the burbs can show their kids what the 1990 xmas games were, fumble around a few runs and let Timmy download tracks for Mario Kart and little Susie her Animal Crossing dlc. The bonus of the games were completely a bonus/afterthought well after the Switch came out.
Just be happy Nintendo is 'nice' enough to let us have what we do. They don't really have the reputation of giving much away and a few dollars a month isn't too much to ask for what we get.... and the getting becomes more every now and again.
It would be nice to see some deeper cuts and more obscure titles for all the consoles though, I have to admit.
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