Nintendo Switch Online flips the switch to paid subscriptions on September 18

By Gabe Gurwin September 12, 2018

Nintendo Switch review
Start searching for spare change and dollars bills under your couch cushions, on the street, and in the space on your shelf where the Wii U used to be, because the Nintendo Switch Online service will require a paid subscription very soon.

Beginning on September 18, playing most games online on Nintendo Switch will require a subscription to the service. The subscription will be offered in several price tiers, with individual month plans going for $4 and three-month plans for $8. Yearly plans for an individual will only cost $20, and special family plans that allow for multiple users on the Switch will go for $35 per year.

A recent earthquake in Japan forced Nintendo to postpone its special Nintendo Direct event originally scheduled for last week, and it will now be streamed on Thursday, September 13, at 6 p.m. ET. The broadcast is billed as a Nintendo Switch and 3DS games showcase, but we will almost certainly learn a bit more about Nintendo Switch Online during the event, as well.

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Mario Tennis Aces — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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Nintendo Switch Online will be the first time a Nintendo console has required users to pay for online multiplayer. It was available in a limited form on the GameCube, and was also included on the DS, Wii, 3DS, and Wii U as a free service. Microsoft, meanwhile, charged players from the very beginning for Xbox Live, and Sony began requiring players to have a PlayStation Plus subscription to access most PS4 games’ multiplayer back in 2013.

At the very least, the price difference between Nintendo Switch Online and the other two services is substantial, and the Switch does have a growing library of great multiplayer games. Splatoon 2, Arms, and Mario Tennis Aces are all made with competition in mind, and when Super Smash Bros. Ultimate releases exclusively for Switch later this year, you’re going to want to test your skills against other players. You’ll probably have your spirit broken in minutes, but you’ll never know unless you try!

In addition to enabling online play, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription will give you access to a vault of NES games with added online features, as well as save data cloud backup and special deals and discounts.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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Hades 2 shows the Steam Deck’s biggest advantage over the Nintendo Switch

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It's always an exciting week when the sequel to one of the greatest games of all time surprise releases on a Monday. That's what happened on May 6 when Hades 2 surprise launched into early access. Players are already diving into the surprisingly robust roguelike, testing their might in its new biomes. I've been enjoying it myself from the comfort of my couch -- and not on my Nintendo Switch, where I played the first Hades. Instead, I'm curled up with my Steam Deck.

The PC-only launch means that Hades 2 is a Steam Deck "exclusive" for the time being (or at least exclusive to portable PCs like it and the Asus ROG Ally). It'll likely come to Nintendo's system -- or its predecessor -- once it hits 1.0, but developer Supergiant doesn't expect its game to leave early access until at least the end of 2024. Until then, you'll need a device like the Steam Deck to play it on the go. That's a reminder that Valve has beaten the Switch at its own game, and Nintendo will have to get creative again with its next system to regain its throne.
Early access on the go
Based on my time with it so far, Hades 2 is a phenomenal match for the Steam Deck. It's already Verified for the platform, and for good reason. It looks fantastic (especially on an OLED screen) and runs smoothly. I've already taken it on the go and found that it's not a huge drain on the Steam Deck's battery. At this point, I don't imagine I'll need to play it any other way.

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3 retro classics to play on Nintendo Switch Online this weekend (May 3-5)

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With rumors of a new Nintendo console heating up, it's once again time to accept that the Switch's long lifespan is coming to its end. 2024 will likely be the system's last full year before a successor steals its thunder. That's apparent in Nintendo's recent first-party offerings, as the system is getting a lot of remasters and niche curveballs this year. As exclusives like Endless Ocean: Luminous underwhelm, you may have found yourself looking for reasons to fire up your Switch.

Thankfully, you have a lot of great excuses to do so if you're subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online. The service is home to plenty of classic games from the NES up to the Nintendo 64. Even if you're a game historian, there's a good chance you haven't played everything Switch Online has to offer. This weekend, I have three recommendations for anyone looking to fire up some great, old games. These aren't random picks; I've chosen three games that feel spiritually linked to some of this spring's biggest games.
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Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?

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Stardew Valley is a game made by just one person, but it has seen more success than most games made by dozens, or even hundreds, of people. It's even one of Digital Trends' top 50 video games of all time. Since its release in 2016, the game has been updated regularly with new features and content to keep its avid fans coming back. This includes an online multiplayer component that allows you and up to three friends to hang out on each other's farms. And with the recent trend of games allowing players on different platforms to join together, you may wonder if Stardew Valley offers cross-platform functionality. Here's everything we know about cross-platform support in Stardew Valley.
Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?
Stardew Valley does not offer cross-platform support, meaning you can't play online multiplayer between any of the systems the game is on. So if you want to team up with some friends, make sure you all are playing on the same platform, such as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, or PC. Also be aware that whoever starts a multiplayer game is saving that shared world locally, meaning no one else can reenter that world without the host present.

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