Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online | |||
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Provider | Nintendo | ||
Launched | September 19, 2018 | ||
Shutdown | N/A | ||
Service provided | Online Wireless Communications | ||
Accessible by | Internet | ||
Website | nintendo.com/switch/online-service |
Nintendo Switch Online (Japanese: Nintendo Switch Online) is a service run by Nintendo that allows users to be matched up with other players and play games with each other. It is used by games for the Nintendo Switch and is the successor to the Nintendo Network service. It is the first service by Nintendo that requires the user to pay a subscription fee in order to allow players to use online functionality with games, such as online multiplayer and user created content. The service also offers a selection of classic games to play, along with a selection of other benefits.
The service first launched on September 19, 2018, and on October 25, 2021, the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack launched. This allowed access to a selection of classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, and other extra benefits, for an additional fee.
Cost
Generally, a 7-day free trial can be used once for Nintendo Switch Online. After it expires, Nintendo occasionally restores access to the free trial to all players whose free trial has already expired. No free trial is offered for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
Nintendo Switch Online | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | |||||
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Market | Individual | Family | Individual | Family | ||
1 month | 3 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | |
Japan | ¥306 | ¥815 | ¥2,400 | ¥4,500 | ¥4,900 | ¥8,900 |
United States | $3.99 | $7.99 | $19.99 | $34.99 | $49.99 | $79.99 |
Canada | $4.99 | $9.99 | $24.99 | $44.99 | $63.99 | $99.99 |
United Kingdom | £3.49 | £6.99 | £17.99 | £31.49 | £34.99 | £59.99 |
Eurozone | €3.99 | €7.99 | €19.99 | €34.99 | €39.99 | €69.99 |
Switzerland | CHF 5.60 | CHF 11.20 | CHF 28 | CHF 38.29 | CHF 51.90 | CHF 89.90 |
Australia | $5.95 | $11.95 | $29.95 | $54.95 | $59.95 | $109.95 |
New Zealand | $6.55 | $13.15 | $32.95 | $60.45 | $69.95 | $119.95 |
South Korea | ₩4,900 | ₩9,900 | ₩19,900 | ₩37,900 | ₩39,900 | ₩74,900 |
Hong Kong | $25 | $65 | $155 | $295 | $325 | $575 |
Features
Friend Codes
- Main article: Friend Code
The Nintendo Switch Online service allocates a Friend Code to every user on the service, generated during the creation of the account. It is used to identify other players on online play along, albeit is not the only method unlike predecessors. This feature was also used for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and on the Nintendo 3DS's online connectivity.
Classic Games Service
Previous generations of Nintendo consoles have featured classic games via the Virtual Console. For the Nintendo Switch, this was replaced by apps for the console that included a growing library of NES and SNES games, exclusively available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, launched October 25, 2021, added apps for N64 and Sega Genesis games (for an additional fee). Both tiers of the subscription received new apps on February 8, 2023: Game Boy (including Game Boy Color) for the base service and Game Boy Advance for the Expansion Pack.
Pokémon games
- Pokémon Snap was added to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online app on June 24, 2022.
- Pokémon Puzzle League was added to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online app on July 15, 2022.
- Pokémon Stadium was added to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online app on April 12, 2023. Pokémon Stadium 2 was added on August 8 of that year. They are not able to connect to the Game Boy games or the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console games.
- Pokémon Trading Card Game was added to the Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online app on August 8, 2023.
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team was added to the Game Boy Advance - Nintendo Switch Online app on August 9, 2024.
Missions & Rewards
Missions & Rewards were added on March 1st, 2022 within the Nintendo Switch Online app on the Nintendo Switch's HOME Menu. This feature gave Nintendo Switch Online subscribers a new method of earning Platinum Points (which previously could only be earned on the My Nintendo website) by completing missions, but also included a Rewards page where Platinum Points could be redeemed for exclusive icon elements for their Nintendo Switch profile. Rewards are only available for a limited-time distribution period; during this period, rewards will rotate on a weekly schedule. Previously available icon elements may become available once again at a later date.
There are three types of icon elements:
- Character elements, which cost 10. Certain character elements come with a set background that cannot be changed, which prevents them from being used alongside background elements as well as the default Nintendo Switch background colors.
- Background elements, which cost 5. Character elements appear in front of background elements. Background elements cannot be used without a character element.
- Frame elements, which cost 5. Frame elements surround background and character elements. A selection of solid color frames are available by default and can be used alongside any icon element that was purchased with Platinum Points.
Icon elements cannot be used alongside other elements from different games. For example, a Pokémon Scarlet and Violet character element cannot be used together with a Detective Pikachu Returns background element. Icon elements can be redeemed in any region, with the exception of the MOTHER3 icon element set that was distributed from March 7, 2024 to March 13, 2024, which could only be redeemed by accounts that had their region set to Japan during the distribution period. Additionally, a new category of icon element called Play & Redeem was introduced on March 4, 2024, first used for the Super Mario World icon element set. Play & Redeem icon element sets require the user to play the corresponding software, sometimes on multiple days, in order to be eligible to redeem the icon elements.
Pokémon series icon elements
Character elements that were previously made available are marked with an asterisk (*). Icon elements are not named within the application - unofficial names for the character elements are used below for convenience.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (November 18, 2022 - December 25, 2022)
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Detective Pikachu Returns (September 28, 2022 - October 26, 2023)
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Games compatible with Nintendo Switch Online
The following Pokémon games are compatible with the Nintendo Switch Online service.
- Pokkén Tournament DX
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
- Pokémon Sword and Shield
- New Pokémon Snap
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Game functionality
Pokkén Tournament DX
- Online battles require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription
Core series games
- A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to trade and battle online
New Pokémon Snap
- A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to share photos online and compete in global leaderboard rankings (such as total Photodex score)
This article is part of Project Mass Media, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on official Pokémon publishing, broadcasting, communications, and other media. |