Last week, Nintendo planned to host a Direct focussing on upcoming Switch and 3DS titles. We were expecting a few new announcements to take place but unfortunately, a big earthquake hit Japan the day before and as a result, the Direct was understandably delayed. Now, Nintendo has announced the new date and we also have the launch date for the Switch Online service.
While in past generations online play has remained free on Nintendo systems, that will change with the Switch. You'll need a Switch Online subscription to play most multiplayer titles, with the exception of free to play games. The service launches on the 18th of September and will cost $3.99 per month, $7.99 for three months, $19.99 per year or alternatively, you can get the $34.99 per year family bundle that provides online access for up to seven Switch consoles.
As part of the Online service, subscribers will also get access to a library of NES games. We don't have the full list of available games just yet but Super Mario Bros. 3 and The Legend of Zelda are said to be included.
We'll likely hear more about Switch Online during this month's Nintendo Direct, which has been rescheduled for tomorrow. The video will go live on the 13th of September at 3PM PDT/6PM EST in the US. Here in the UK, the stream will go live at 11PM.
KitGuru Says: I'm hoping to see a release date for Diablo III on the Switch during this Direct. Will any of you be tuning in for the announcements? Are any of you planning to subscribe to Switch Online?