Paid Online Multiplayer with Few Benefits So Far
Shortly after the Switch presentation, we found out that online multiplayer will be free when the Switch launches in March. However, once Nintendo’s paid online system is in place this fall, you’ll need to pay a subscription fee to play games online. While this isn’t necessarily unheard of (PS Plus also had a free trial period), it’s not an easy move for Nintendo.
Nintendo has never had any form of payed online before; this is something entirely new to the Switch, and a cost that may throw off some longtime fans. Hopefully, Nintendo’s online system has been optimized enough to warrant paying a monthly fee, as the Wii and Wii U would have had a hard time justifying any kind of pay with their slim online offerings. This is doubly true considering that Splatoon 2, a huge multiplayer title, is set to launch before the paid system is introduced. Players transitioning from the Wii U will get invested in Splatoon 2, then have the to shell out more money to continue playing the game online once fall rolls around.
Depending on the price range, the Switch’s Online Service may drop an uncomfortable and unjustified price tag down the line. We do know that subscribers will get access to a free NES or SNES game each month, but at the end of the month, that game goes away.
It may be a good idea for Nintendo to have some kind of scaling price system, with additional downloadable content, deals, or features available for higher subscriptions. This would allow users to feel like they’re getting more bang for their buck after the initial trial period ends.
At the very least, they should include a free trial for the online subscription for anyone that purchases a Switch at anytime. Purchasing a brand new console and then having to immediately put more money down to play online is an incredibly difficult sell. A one or two month trial would allow new players to see what Nintendo’s new system has to offer and if it’s worth it for them, rather than giving an initial bad impression with a pay wall.
