July is going to be an exciting month for Nintendo Switch users. The Japanese company confirmed during a Nintendo Direct event on Thursday that users would get the first look at the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app on July 21st. The initial version of the app will be revealed alongside Splatoon 2. Nintendo had clarified in the past that it would use a standalone smartphone app for online communication for its latest console.
What can you do with the Nintendo Switch Online app?
The company said the Nintendo Switch Online app would be available both for iOS and Android. It has been designed to “enhance your online experience” for compatible titles on the Switch. The app has numerous game-specific features to increase user engagement. The Nintendo Switch Online app will allow users to invite friends to online matches, voice chat, and create teams.
The app would work only with Splatoon 2 at launch, giving users access to SplatNet 2. SplantNet 2 would allow them to track their online play stats and get updates on the upcoming game features. The arrival of the app indicates that other titles such as Rocket League wouldn’t have in-built voice chat features. It may affect the user experience. However, Nintendo has recently been promoting a headset accessory from Hori. The headset would combine the Nintendo Switch with the audio from smartphone to offer a seamless experience.
Nintendo told fans that in Splatoon 2, players will be able to invite others via the Online app to League Battles, Private Battles, and Splatfest Battles across social media and other services. The app will send you a push notification when you receive an invite. The Nintendo Switch Online is one of the first smartphone releases from the Japanese company. It has already launched a parental control app for the Switch. It would be interesting to see how many third-party games take advantage of Nintendo’s app.
Nintendo Switch Online will cost you nothing for now
The Nintendo Switch Online app and Splatoon 2 online multiplayer are free until the company officially launches its service for the Switch next year. Nintendo hasn’t yet revealed the features of its paid online service. The paid service is expected to give users access to special eShop discounts and allow them to download classic Nintendo titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Dr. Mario, and Balloon Fight.
The paid service is going to cost users $3.99 for a one-month membership. Nintendo will charge $7.99 for three months and $19.99 for the annual subscription. While Nintendo’s services can’t directly be compared to those of Microsoft and Sony’s, these two giants charge $59.99 for the annual online subscription.
Splatoon 2 will be packed with new features, weapons
Nintendo talked about Splatoon 2 at the Nintendo Direct event in great detail. The game will be packed with new features, new locations, new weapons, new styles, and some returning features. You can customize the Inklings to your taste by changing the eye color, hair style, and skin tone. You can also equip them with new gear such as shoes, hats, and shirts.
The Splatoon 2 will have a handy menu to let users change the controls separately for handheld and TV mode. It would let users post drawings directly to social media. Besides TV and handheld, players can also play it in tabletop mode, online, and local multiplayer. Turf War is going to make a comeback in Splatoon 2.
Though the game is set to debut on July 21st, you can experience it with the Splatoon 2: Splatfest World Premiere demo. It would take place between 3-7 p.m. Pacific Time on July 15. All you have to do is download the free demo in eShop on your Switch console, and choose a team before the Splatfest kicks off. The demo can be downloaded starting today.
Nintendo Switch is not as powerful as Xbox One or PlayStation 4. The lack of raw power has begun to cost Switch some exciting games. For instance, the Switch won’t get Call of Duty: WWII. That’s because Call of Duty is a graphics-intensive title that would require massive processing power. Even Asobo Studio has decided not to bring A Plague Tale: Innocence to Switch because the developers believe the console isn’t powerful enough to do justice to its title.
No ‘Game Over’ in Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo has confirmed that there would be no Game Over in the upcoming Super Mario Odyssey, one of the most highly anticipated Nintendo Switch titles. Mario will be losing ten coins rather than losing a life every time he “dies.” Now that there will be no Game Over message, what would happen if you run out of coins to fund your next revival? Nintendo says users will still be able to play the game.
In regular Super Mario games, if you run out of lives, you can still pick up from a flagpole checkpoint. The Super Mario Odyssey for Switch will retain the checkpoint feature, but it’s not yet known how it would work. Super Mario Odyssey is set to debut on October 27th.
