Nintendo Switch Online Offering New Free Trial

Nintendo is offering players a new opportunity to try its Nintendo Switch Online service for free. Even gamers who have utilized a free Nintendo Switch Online trial in the past are eligible for this run.

Nintendo Switch Online allows players to access online titles like Splatoon 3 or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In addition to adding online functionality to games, the service also provides players with a number of free games they can play from prior Nintendo consoles like the SNES or Game Boy. Subscribers can also pay a little extra to gain access to an even more extended game library featuring titles from the N64 and Game Boy Advance. For gamers still on the fence or on a budget, though, this trial shouldn’t be missed.

Nintendo is now offering a one-week free trial of the Nintendo Switch Online service to any gamers who aren’t currently subscribed. Players who have previously taken advantage of a NSO trial can also enjoy this trial, as well. The trial will allow players to access all the standard Nintendo Switch Online plan’s benefits for one week. After the trial is up, players will automatically be switched to a monthly subscription plan that costs $3.99. However, players can avoid this fee so long as they unsubscribe from the service before their trial has expired.

Nintendo Switch Online Service Benefits

Those unfamiliar with Nintendo Switch Online should know that there are multiple offerings under the service from Nintendo. This trial only covers the base version of Nintendo Switch Online’s service, not the Expansion Pack tier. The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack is an extension of the Nintendo Switch Online service with an additional fee that adds more recent classic games from Nintendo’s library to the list of free games to play. It also features some other bonuses, like access to the Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC.

Nintendo Switch Online trials for users who have already taken advantage of one are fairly rare. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, encouraging subscribers to the service now may seem odd, but numerous leaks and official announcements have indicated that the Nintendo Switch Online service will likely continue on the next platform. Though some would argue that NSO lacks features other console and game subscription services offer, it’s also available for a lower price. This could be a good opportunity for Nintendo to add new subscribers to its service while prepping for the reveal of Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.