Nintendo Online – Subscription will get you access to 20 NES games

Nintendo’s Switch subscription launches at some point in September (We’ve been hinted to around the 24th) and will cost £18/€20/$20 for 12 months, £7/€8/$8 for 3 months or £3.49/€4/$4 for a month’s access.

Now bear in mind the costs above are only for one user. For a multi user / family set-up (up to 8 users using the same system) this will set you back a flat rate of £31.49/€35/$35 per year.

This will entitle you to cloud saving for your games, use of the online multiplayer servers (sorry guys, the free run is over – its behind the paywall you go) and access to a special selection of NES hits from the big N’s back catalogue.

As previously announced, the service unlocks access to a library of ‘free’ NES game with added newly-online multiplayer available at launch. These will include:

• Soccer
• Tennis
• Donkey Kong
• Mario Bros.
• Super Mario Bros.
• Balloon Fight
• Ice Climber
• Dr. Mario
• The Legend of Zelda
• Super Mario Bros. 3

Ten more unannounced games will also be available at launch (Suspect Zelda 2 and SMB2 will make up a couple of the slots), and more will then be added on a regular basis, as well as the ability to watch streams of friends’ games.

Personally, holding back cloud saving and some online multiplayer behind the paywall seems a bit extreme given Sony and Microsoft’s offerings, but I have been advised special offers will be coming to members in addition to the above.

Hopefully Nintendo will take a tip from Steam and Microsoft and offer free taster weekends once the perks become a little bit more tempting…..