Nintendo has delayed their online subscription, that was set to launch in Autumn 2017, to launch sometime in 2018, meaning users will get some more time experiencing online on the Switch for free! They also revealed the prices and the fact that people with a paid subscription will get access to older games with new online play support. The full details and prices can be seen below.

Online lobby and voice chat
Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games─all from your smart device.

A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017.

Classic Game Selection*
Subscribers will get to download a compilation of classic titles with added online play, such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario.

Subscription prices:

1-Month Membership
$3.99 (USD)

3-Month Membership
$7.99 (USD)

12-Month Membership
$19.99 (USD)

Source

More information regarding the classic games collection:

Nintendo confirmed that this monthly plan has indeed changed, telling Kotaku: “Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will have ongoing access to a library of classic games with added online play. Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.”

Source

 

[jimmyleen]

That's going to take awhile to get going, I honestly hope that the homebrew community can crack the Switch wide open to allow for any of the past consoles (Minus the Wii) so that we can load up all of our favorite games for on the go play from the NES to the Gamecube. Something like that would be my one big push to snag myself a Switch. Having every Nintendo system on the go is something I have not yet accomplished and would give me a reason to pick up a Switch.

The only reason it will "take while" is if hackers and or devs have sympathy for Nintendo, *cough* wii U hacking *cough* .

 

[MarioFanatic64]

inb4 no VC until 2018, even then only NES games.

 

[leon315]

to launch sometime in 2018, meaning users will get some more time experiencing online on the Switch for free!

In few words, u guys are FREE beta testers

 

[DarkIrata]

It really can't be that hard, though?
It'd be sending inputs from one system to another, and receiving ones from someone else, like most online games, while emulating easy to emulate games.
I don't see why that isn't also reasonably doable with SNES or perhaps N64.

it is

 

[Steena]

People went from not accepting to pay for the p2p online retard taxes to cheering said retard tax is cheap.
Squeeze in the bullshit and slowly let it establish itself and it will be seen as a feature eventually.

1.67 USD per month is too much?

Anything over 0.00USD for a service that does not exist is too much.

 

[StarTrekVoyager]

Anything over 0.00USD for a service that does not exist is too much.

*
How does the service not exist? They give you access to the right of playing online, plus netplay VC&Co.

 

[FAST6191]

I am also of the opinion that any amount is too much for online. For a Nintendo online experience any amount is definitely too much. One day a system could offer a service I feel compelled to crowbar my wallet open for but it has not happened yet.
Likewise in the competition, that being android and ios, there is a general lack of subscription fees. Not to mention the same is mostly true of the PC as well.
If individual games want to try it on then I am more amenable, still never paid for anything though.

Re netplay VC then if it is a conventional console then barring things like GC modem with mario kart all players would be on the same system. You make one the host and then stream video, audio and take in inputs from the other. If you are more flash you sync savestates and have a pause/slowdown triggered by ping. Nintendo would then be operating a lobby, a broadcaster maybe for more than two players and nat traversal, all of which they should already have.
If it is a handheld in which you have multiple devices independently running code you can try encapsulating the link protocol (the games are not built for dropped packets and latency as they are just games and built for direct links down about 1m of copper on devices not running very fast) but it is probably easier to emulate two (or as many as you need) instances of a device within one system and do the same as the normal console netplay with the video and button presses, maybe also sync the save and the savesate so the other can join.

Naturally you also pick games that are a bit less latency sensitive (say pokemon as opposed to a twitchy fighting game) for the initial rollout.

My usual link of choice in these situations
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131781/the_internet_sucks_or_what_i_.php

 

[StarTrekVoyager]

Actually, I think that they need top rentabilize the online servers. Remeber they are currently running 2 instances on the CDN/NN servers (3DS/Wii U) plus the Nintendo Switch Online.

 

[SamTheSaminator]

Nintendo has delayed their online subscription, that was set to launch in Autumn 2017, to launch sometime in 2018, meaning users will get some more time experiencing online on the Switch for free! They also revealed the prices and the fact that people with a paid subscription will get access to older games with new online play support. The full details and prices can be seen below.​

Subscription prices:

1-Month Membership
$3.99 (USD)

3-Month Membership
$7.99 (USD)

12-Month Membership
$19.99 (USD)

Source

That's cheap compared to Nintendo's competitors.
But we all know what Nintendo's online play is like...

 

[Nemix77]

Yay free online!

 

[Deleted User]

On the one hand: It will only include vc games and you only rent them for a month, you do not get to keep them.

um actually

Nintendo confirmed that this monthly plan has indeed changed, telling Kotaku: “Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will have ongoing access to a library of classic games with added online play. Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.”

http://kotaku.com/nintendo-details-switch-online-service-will-be-20-yea-1795743981

 

[kingtut]

um actually



http://kotaku.com/nintendo-details-switch-online-service-will-be-20-yea-1795743981

The wording is kind of vague. So is it like Netflix where the subscription gets you free games and they keep adding to them all the time. Or is it just those three free games?

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

Phew. It's delayed to 2018.

The pricing whether USD or EUR seems to be exactly the same, and guess for GBP that'll apply too. £1.67 per month is a pretty good price but how do the classic monthly games work? Do we get to keep them as paid members or are they just monthly rentals?

 

[Vipera]

O
On the other hand: I do like the idea of online support for older games. I would love to play pokemon stadium, Mario party, and super bomberman online.

I really wish I could believe that. I still remember the big "3D Classics" fiasco.

 

[heartgold]

$20 is a lot cheaper than I expected, but attracted price point too.

I assume Smash Bros port will launch around when paid online comes through.

Pretty nifty too, grabbing all those sales around holiday seasons, and delaying the paid online.

Nintendo's big online games are Maro Kart D, ARMS, Splatoon 2, Monster Hunter XX from capcom, possibly Pokemon stars and Smash Bros when they launch the paid online.

 

[spotanjo3]

No thanks.

 

[Onepunchbruh]

What? We have to pay to play online?

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

I am also of the opinion that any amount is too much for online. For a Nintendo online experience any amount is definitely too much. One day a system could offer a service I feel compelled to crowbar my wallet open for but it has not happened yet.
Likewise in the competition, that being android and ios, there is a general lack of subscription fees. Not to mention the same is mostly true of the PC as well.
If individual games want to try it on then I am more amenable, still never paid for anything though.

Re netplay VC then if it is a conventional console then barring things like GC modem with mario kart all players would be on the same system. You make one the host and then stream video, audio and take in inputs from the other. If you are more flash you sync savestates and have a pause/slowdown triggered by ping. Nintendo would then be operating a lobby, a broadcaster maybe for more than two players and nat traversal, all of which they should already have.
If it is a handheld in which you have multiple devices independently running code you can try encapsulating the link protocol (the games are not built for dropped packets and latency as they are just games and built for direct links down about 1m of copper on devices not running very fast) but it is probably easier to emulate two (or as many as you need) instances of a device within one system and do the same as the normal console netplay with the video and button presses, maybe also sync the save and the savesate so the other can join.

Naturally you also pick games that are a bit less latency sensitive (say pokemon as opposed to a twitchy fighting game) for the initial rollout.

My usual link of choice in these situations
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131781/the_internet_sucks_or_what_i_.php

Valve can pay for servers when PC gamers, on average, spend more than their console counterparts. Console gamers are more casual, buying one or two games for a year to play. As you know, in the UK, FIFA and COD are pretty big here and most people just play those games, Sony can't have a free online system with dedicated servers just for two games, it's just not cost effective, that's why they ask users for money.
Also, keep in mind this isnt a vacuum where there is only a switch, Nintendo needs to be able to pay for their servers when Sony and Microsoft are selling the same game. So when you see a game sell a few million, that doesn't go to one of the manufacturers but rather all three (if Nintendo actually got their support.) But if it were just ONE console? Then your argument would be a little more valid.
If you really want free to play online then you'll have to deal with p2p online which is all dependent on every users internet connection, and what is used in the Wii U and 3DS's online. The Switch, however, will use dedicated servers so I'd deem it unfair to judge based on old records of shitty online.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

um actually



http://kotaku.com/nintendo-details-switch-online-service-will-be-20-yea-1795743981

I'll add this to the main post, thanks.

 

[RaMon90]

20$ for 1 year is very cheap, that should also be the price for ps4. 49 euro is damn high. So learn from this sony.

 

[duwen]

Surprised that the news about the Splatoon 2 headset wasn't rolled into this post.

...and Polygon's take on it - https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/1/15724070/nintendo-switch-headset-chat-voice-chat-hori

Also, I can't believe that no one else has realised that you will need to spend more than the reported subscription price for a service comparable to Nintendos rivals services.
For a start there's the above peripheral for voice chat. And the requirement of a mobile phone compatible with the app/service... which will require either constant wi-fi or will otherwise impact your 3g data useage.
So, presume you don't own a suitable mobile device - you could be looking at an initial outlay of several hundred £/$/€ to get the online Switch service, and (if you factor in mobile phone contracts, upgraded data allowance) potentially hundreds more to maintain it.