Nintendo Switch paid online delayed, pricing revealed

The Nintendo Switch is on fire right now, with brisk sales and reports that the Japanese firm is going to increase production of the console.

If there is a major downside to the console, it’s that the online service was quite barebones and would become a paid service later this year. Now, Nintendo has announced that the paid service won’t launch in 2017.

“Please note that online play will continue to be free for Nintendo Account holders until the paid service launches in 2018,” the company wrote on its website.

Nintendo has also revealed pricing for the online service, with a one month membership retailing for US$3.99, a three month membership retailing for US$7.99, while a year-long membership will set you back US$19.99.

So, what will the paid service bring to the table?

For starters, you’ll need the paid service to engage in online multiplayer. But the premium service also delivers a mobile app, allowing you to chat to friends, make play appointments and more.

The company is also delivering a selection of classic NES and SNES games (available to play for the month), but reworked to offer online play.