Following the release of the Nintendo Switch in 2017, Nintendo has made an effort to improve its online services. Roughly a year after the release of the hybrid console, the company announced Nintendo Switch Online, a service meant to bring more online functionality to gamers. While the service has been around for a few years, Nintendo is giving fans a new opportunity to check it out.
Recently, it was revealed that gamers were getting a new chance to demo the Nintendo Switch Online service. This news came via a tweet from Nintendo of America on November 16. The company revealed that a 7-day free trial of Nintendo Switch Online is available to those that currently do not have an active subscription to the online service. The exciting aspect of this trial is that anyone can check it out, regardless of whether they already activated a free trial in the past.
This new free trial gives players the chance to check out all the features exclusive to the annual $19.99 membership for Nintendo Switch Online. One significant perk of the online service is the option to play games online with friends. Some Nintendo Switch titles that offer online support through the service include Splatoon 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and the recently released Mario Party Superstars. In addition to online play for newer games, the free trial grants users access to many classic retro games from the NES and SNES eras, such as Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, and Super Mario Kart.
However, it should be noted that this free trial doesn’t include the benefits of the Expansion Pack. As part of an upgraded version of Nintendo Switch Online, the Expansion Pack offers several additional features, albeit at a higher price. One highlight of the upgraded online service is access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. Furthermore, Expansion Pack subscribers that own Animal Crossing: New Horizons receive the Happy Home Paradise DLC for free.
This news regarding a new 7-day free trial of Nintendo Switch Online comes as Nintendo has been under fire for its handling of the Expansion Pack. Many players have criticized the $30 increase in price compared to the base service. In addition, gamers have complained about the poor emulations of some of the N64 games added to the service.
It’s an interesting decision from Nintendo to not include the premium version of its online subscription with this free trial. With the current controversy involving the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, offering the higher-priced subscription could have been a way to attract more members. Time will tell how many people activate this trial and whether it causes more people to subscribe to the online service in the future.