Skip to main content

‘Resident Evil 7’ comes to Nintendo Switch in Japan via cloud streaming

Nintendo Switch『バイオハザード7 レジデント イービル クラウドバージョン』プロモーション映像

You can play the underrated action-adventure games Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2 on the Nintendo Switch right now, but there isn’t currently a way to enjoy last year’s excellent Resident Evil 7: Biohazard on the system. That’s about to change in Japan, though it comes with a catch.

Beginning May 24, Nintendo Switch players in Japan will be able to purchase a 180-day pass to Resident Evil 7: Cloud Version, a streaming-only edition of the game that includes access to the main story as well as all DLC. It will cost 2,000 yen, equivalent to about $18, making it a fairly good bargain for those who don’t plan on replaying the story over and over again.

A free trial is also available, allowing you to play for 15 minutes to ensure your internet connection is strong enough to handle the full game. Capcom recommends using either a wired connection — not particularly ideal for the Switch — or an 802.11ac 5 GHz wireless connection.

Only 45MB of space is needed on the Switch itself.

As with the majority of Nintendo Switch games, Resident Evil 7: Cloud Version will be playable with the system in handheld mode, docked, or in tabletop mode. The translated Japanese website also said an extra “operation method” has been added specifically for Nintendo Switch, though it doesn’t specify exactly how this will work. Similar first-person games have allowed players to use the Joy-Con controllers individually for more accurate aiming.

The are some caveats, however. If you allow your tickets to expire, Capcom doesn’t guarantee that your save data will be retained. The company also said on its website that there could even be problems with your data during your valid ticket time, and seeing as there is no way to back up your Nintendo Switch save files yet, this could be a problem, though there could perhaps be a workaround for this when Nintendo Switch Online’s cloud save service launches this fall.

If you don’t have a Switch or don’t live in Japan, Resident Evil 7 is available now on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. The PlayStation 4 version offers full PlayStation VR support, and a recent patch has made the Xbox One X a great choice for the game, as well.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
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…
World of Goo 2 might just be the Nintendo Switch’s next must-own co-op game
A built structure in World of Goo 2.

When I sat down to demo World of Goo 2 at this year’s GDC, I noted to the developers on hand how surprising it was to see a sequel after so long. “It’s been, what? Ten years?” I said. I was very far off the mark: They noted that the original World of Goo launched in 2008. After playing a few levels (and having an existential crisis over time’s rapid passing), I’d find myself wondering how such an obvious slam dunk didn’t come sooner.

Like its predecessor, World of Goo 2 is a physics-based puzzle game where players craft structures from little, gooey critters. It presents a series of engineering challenges, as poorly built structures will topple under the weight of all those jiggly little pals. Rather than reinventing that concept entirely, World of Goo 2 adds some wild new ideas onto that stable structure that opens up its puzzle potential. The result is a chaotic co-op game that’s a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch.

Read more
How to transfer data from Nintendo Switch to Switch OLED
Pokémon on Nintendo Switch OLED.

If you've picked up a new Nintendo Switch OLED, you already know that it's a substantial upgrade from the previous iterations of the console. What you may not know, however, is how to transfer your data from your old Switch to your new Switch OLED.

Unfortunately, the transfer process isn't as straightforward as you might expect, so it can be confusing to get things going. However, we've got all the details on how to migrate your user data from one Switch to another, even if you don't have access to your previous system and best Switch games. Here's how to transfer your data from your Switch to the Switch OLED.
How to transfer data from Switch to Switch OLED
Step 1

Read more
Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers: how they work and eligible games
Princess Peach.

Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers vanished from the eShop in 2019, but they've since made a triumphant return. Though they won't be perfect for everyone, these vouchers are ideal for folks interested in playing multiple Switch games throughout the year and looking to save a few bucks on their purchase. After buying a voucher, you'll be able to browse an ever-growing selection of digital Switch games -- including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Tears of the Kingdom -- and snag them at a discount.

Curious about the Nintendo Switch Game Voucher program? Here's everything you need to know about the unique program.
How Nintendo Switch Vouchers work

Read more