Nintendo has always been a strong contender alongside rivals like PlayStation and Xbox, not least because it's offering something very different from its competitors in terms of its hardware as well as its games. Console creators have adapted over the years to accommodate the transition towards more online gaming, and Nintendo's answer to this for its current console, Nintendo Switch Online, has had to compete with other offerings to get players to invest. Although it's not always been the strongest offering, thanks to a few recent reveals and announcements, 2023 seems like it could be a great year for Nintendo Switch Online.
Since it was officially launched in 2018, Nintendo Switch Online has added various aspects and perks to keep gamers interested in the popular handheld console. In addition to online features, older games from discontinued consoles like the NES and SNES were available on NSO, offering players a chance to experience retro games as well as give those potentially forgotten titles a new lease of life. Now in the Switch's sixth year, NSO is kicking things up a notch with an even stronger offering filled with great deals and access to a wider range of older games, in addition to other perks.
Nintendo Switch Online In 2023
Rumors may be swirling that the Nintendo Switch might be on the way out, with another type of console set to replace it, but others believe the console and its subscription service are only now hitting their peak. There may have been concerns among some fans that the 2017 console is losing steam, or that its scheduled releases may not be as impressive as its competitors, but the latest Nintendo Direct has detailed an exciting few months for NSO and its associated console.
The lineup of games for 2023 already looks incredibly strong for the Switch and its online subscription service. With highly anticipated titles like Fire Emblem Engage launching and eagerly awaited sequels like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the horizon, fans have lots to look forward to. The recent Nintendo Direct was a good indicator of where the Switch and NSO are heading in the next few months, and the fact that it was packed full of new announcements, exciting updates, and even a few surprises bodes well for both fans and the subscription service in 2023.
Why This Year Is Big For Nintendo Switch Online
Since it launched, NSO has had a hard time keeping up with PS Plus or Xbox Game Pass, both with the level of service it provided and the variety of games on offer. Although the Switch remains popular, the draw of NSO has always been fairly weak in comparison. However, 2023 is looking like it will be its best year yet, with more games for players to access and things like its NSO vouchers that offer a good deal for gamers looking to pad out their library. The Expansion Pack tier has also faced criticism in the past, but with recent additions like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass and the Octo Expansion for Splatoon 2, NSO is becoming better by the month.
More so than ever before, 2023 is the year that NSO is bringing together a celebration of older titles from previous consoles with massive, new first and third-party games on the same service. With the announcement that Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles will be available online, players will be able to experience a welcome hit of nostalgia as they play the best games of previous consoles, as well as remasters of beloved but underappreciated titles like the Nintendo DS's Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. These additions will help to make an NSO subscription not only feel like a great deal but also potentially one of the best retro gaming services out there.
