Nintendo announced today that it will launch a new program called “Game Trials.” The program, which only subscribers to its online platform will be able to access, will give Switch owners a chance to try out certain Nintendo games for free for a limited time.
The Switch online service launched last year. It works similarly to Xbox Live or Playstation Plus in that users pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee in exchange for access to Nintendo’s online games and a library of titles from the NES era.
Now, Nintendo is throwing in another perk. Starting on August 7th, subscribers can download Mario Tennis Aces from the eShop for free and enjoy the full game until August 13th. Once the trial ends, players who choose to buy the game can pick up where they left off.
To sweeten the deal a little bit, Nintendo will offer the game for 30% off for players who decide to purchase it. The discount will run a little longer than the program, so players will have until August 20th to decide if they want the game at the discounted price.
This move should excite fans of the Switch who have felt underwhelmed by Nintendo’s online subscription service. The move shows that Nintendo has a commitment to making the service more robust. They have also consistently added new NES titles to the console since the launch of the service.
On the other hand, it still seems like Nintendo has a lot of catching up to do. Some folks have compared this new Game Trials program to the free games provided to Playstation Plus and Xbox One subscribers each month. However, with those programs, subscribers get to keep the game at the end of the month as long as they continue to have an active online subscription. The Nintendo titles only last a week.
Still, it’s exciting to see Nintendo thinking about this kind of thing. Nintendo has a huge library of timeless and beloved games that they could tap into for this kind of program. Imagine if they began to offer free remasters of old classics each month? It would certainly bring a flood of new subscribers to the program.
Mario Tennis Aces is available now for the Nintendo Switch.