Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Exceed 34 Million Amid Shifts in Service and Content

Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo’s official online service for its hybrid console, has hit a significant milestone with over 34 million subscribers as of September 30, 2024.

The figure was shared during a recent presentation by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa at the company’s second-quarter financial results and corporate management policy briefing. Launched globally in September 2018, Nintendo Switch Online has offered Nintendo Switch players access to a suite of benefits including online multiplayer, classic game libraries, cloud saves, and exclusive member offers through the Nintendo eShop.

Over the years, the service has become an integral component of the Nintendo Switch ecosystem, complementing the hardware’s widespread appeal. While surpassing 34 million subscribers remains a major achievement, the recent number represents a slight decrease when compared to September 2022, when Nintendo Switch Online reached more than 36 million members.

Nintendo attributes this dip primarily to a reduced number of new titles in the past year that emphasized online play.

Despite this downturn, the company notes an upward trend in subscriptions to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, the service tier introduced in late 2021 that delivers access to additional content such as Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis games. To enhance the value of its online offering, Nintendo has rolled out new features tailored to its dedicated fanbase.

The most notable recent addition is Nintendo Music, a music streaming service available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers via a dedicated smartphone app.

The platform provides users with access to a broad selection of beloved Nintendo game soundtracks, reinforcing the company’s strategy to leverage its rich portfolio of intellectual property. When addressing a shareholder query regarding the long-term goals of Nintendo Music and its potential reach, president Shuntaro Furukawa reiterated the core objective of Nintendo Switch Online: to enhance the overall experience of using the Nintendo Switch.

Furukawa stated that Nintendo Music allows members to enjoy classic game music on their smart devices, serving as a unique extension of Nintendo’s content library.

He emphasized that the service is designed to evoke nostalgia and potentially prompt users to revisit favorite games, while also providing an added incentive for current subscribers to maintain their memberships. Nintendo’s continued focus on expanding and refining its online services underlines the company’s broader goal of growing its digital ecosystem.

With consistent updates and feature enhancements like Nintendo Music, Nintendo Switch Online remains a fundamental pillar of the Nintendo Switch platform, ensuring that it meets the expectations of a global and engaged audience.

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