Nintendo Switch's Paid Online Service Launching In September

The Nintendo Switch's paid online service will launch in September 2018, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima confirmed today during an earnings call.

Online play for Switch games has been free since the system launched in March 2017. Initially, Nintendo planned to launch its paid service in Fall 2017, but it was delayed to 2018. At the time, Nintendo announced it would offer memberships for 1 month ($4), 3 months ($8), and 12 months ($20), but it remains to be seen if those prices are still accurate.

By comparison, Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus cost $60/year.

As announced previously, you'll need a membership for online gameplay and online lobby and voice chat (through a smartphone app), while you also have to pay to get some eShop deals. Non-subscribers can still access the eShop, of course, and register/manage friends, share screenshots on social media, and access the Switch parent controls app.

We will report back with more details on the Nintendo Switch's new online service when information becomes available. According to Wall Street Journal reporter Takashi Mochizuki, Nintendo will announce more details in the months ahead. The reporter quoted Kimishima as saying Nintendo plans to make the service attractive with content or other programming, with more details on the specifics scheduled to be announced later this year.

For more on today's big Nintendo news, check out the stories linked below.

• New Super Mario Movie Confirmed At Minions Studio, Miyamoto Will Produce It
• New Mario Kart Game Announced For Mobile
• SNES Classic Sells 4 Million Units
• Nintendo Plans To Release More DLC "To Promote Longer Gameplay"