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Nintendo Switch Online is hardly a flat-out requirement for enjoying your newNintendo Switch 2home console, but itisthe key to getting the most out of it. From online multiplayer modes to an ever-broadening horizon of titles from classic Nintendo consoles, NSO provides plenty of entertainment at - in our view, at least - a very reasonable price.
Getting Nintendo Switch Online set up and ready to go requires a handful of steps, and making the most of it means getting to know the program inside and out. Here’s how to join the service, and everything that you may do with it.
Registering For Nintendo Switch Online
There are a couple of main ways to joinNintendo Switch Online. The first is via clicking on theNintendo Switch Online sub-menu at the bottom of the Switch 2’s home screen. You’ll quickly be told all about why you ought to consider joining; a sign-up link will be straight ahead.
The second, which is a bit easier, is by going on toNintendo.comitself. Each region of the world has its own dedicated Nintendo site, of course, but if you should happen to be located in the U.S.,this is the one you’ll want.
Wherever you may happen to be, the overall layout of the NSO sign-up page will be relatively similar. You’ll note that there are the following choices:
Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership
This is the most basic of basics - not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with that. In USD reckoning, this costs$3.99 per month, $7.99 for 90 days, or $19.99 for a full year.
WIth it, you’ll gain access toonline play,theGameChatfeature, theNintendo Musicmobile app, theSave Data cloud, as well as the followingNintendo Classicsemulator apps:
Most regions of the world feature30-day free trialsfor this basic membership tier, so be sure to pick that if you’d like to sample NSO prior to any form of financial commitment.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
This is the tier which we tend to recommend to folks, unless you happen to be a fairly infrequent gamer. The “+ Expansion Pack” denotes a fair number of perks, soif you’re interested in playing Nintendo Classics, this is the way to go.
For costs in USD, it’s$49.99 per year. Thatisa rather steep hike; there’s no denying it. Make sure the followingadditional featuresare worth it for you, as they have been for us:
Nintendo Switch Online Family Memberships
Suffice it to say, this is a far better deal overall than the individual memberships. If this is an option for you, don’t hesitate, and remember - you don’t actuallyneedto have eight people on the account. That’s just the max!
Downloading Nintendo Classics Apps
Once you’ve signed up for Nintendo Switch Online, don’t forget to take advantage of it beyond the realm of online play!
Head to the Nintendo Switch Online sub-menu at the bottom-left of the Switch 2’s home menu, and once you’ve clicked on it, locate each of the individual console/handheld emulation apps.Downloading them places their icons on your home menu, much like any other game.
Each of these has a wide variety of classic games to play;Nintendo adds to the libraries over time. Mind you, the odds of getting new games for something that’s been on NSO for a longer period of time - like the Nintendo or Super Nintendo - are slimmer than getting additional offerings for newer apps - like the GameCube. But there are far more games on the older hardware apps at present, so it stands to reason!
TheGameCube app is unique to Nintendo Switch 2; the original Nitnendo Switch’s online membership lacks it. If you’ve never checked out The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur II, or F-Zero GX, give ‘em a whirl!
