Nintendo Switch Online might not have a spotless reputation, but its library of games is nothing to sneeze at. With the service poised to continue onto the next Nintendo console, Nintendo Switch Online‘s catalog of retro games could be a major asset for the company going forward.
In a recent statement, company president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online will play a role in the company’s next console. Specifically, Furukawa confirmed that NSO will remain in place as part of Nintendo’s backwards compatibility efforts with the next console, colloquially referred to as the Switch 2. In regard to what can be speculated from this news, it’s likely that NSO will continue to grow throughout the Switch 2’s life, possibly expanding its inventory of classic games even further.
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How Nintendo Switch Online Is Becoming A Retro Game Powerhouse
What makes the expansion of Switch Online’s library not only possible but likely is the popularity of that aspect. Nintendo Switch Online has been controversial several different times, all the way from when it first introduced paid network services to Nintendo consoles. From infamous lagging issues, especially with games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Mario Maker 2, to an obtuse means of integrating voice chat, Switch Online has never been particularly popular compared to other consoles’ online play.
However, NSO’s treasure trove of retro games has often been a point of pride. The initial slate of NES games was a decent start, but the introduction of SNES titles is what really caught fans’ attention. Now with two subscription models, including an expanded option that includes N64, GBA, and Sega Mega Drive games, Nintendo Switch Online’s retro repertoire is always growing. Considering how many of these older games have long been left by the wayside, the service is truly fulfilling a big gap in the market—one that time is only widening, with more and more retro games being lost to time each year. If Nintendo keeps up this momentum, potentially expanding the number of retro studios brought under NSO’s banner, the service could become one of the Switch 2’s biggest strengths.
Switch Online Keeps Growing, And Its Gone Beyond Nintendo
As stated prior, NSO wasn’t too impressive upon launch—with its offering of NES games doing little to make up for the service’s other flaws. However, there are now over 100 games on NSO, and that number includes Sega games. Sega has long been out of the console market, and its older games haven’t been as well-preserved as Nintendo classics. Luckily for retro fans, the company’s inventory on NSO just expanded even further, with November of this year roping in more Sega Genesis titles.
That’s without mentioning other deals that Nintendo would’ve had to work out to carry NSO’s current catalog. A notable example would be the Banjo-Kazooie series; in late 2024, NSO completed the duology by adding Banjo-Tooie. Microsoft’s buyout of Rare saw that particular IP leashed to Xbox for years, making its return here notable even with the context of the bear and bird’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Striking these deals with Sega and Microsoft are examples of the lengths Nintendo is willing to go to make NSO a hub for retro games, so it’s possible for the company to go even further still.
The Future Of Switch Online Looks Bright, But Must Stay Ready to Compete
Nintendo Switch Online has a lot going for it, which could be upsetting news for those who prefer a Virtual Console system. However, the biggest problem NSO faces is its place in the current subscription service climate. In the realm of film and TV, the success of Netflix saw a thousand copycats—splintering media across dozens of services and squandering some of streaming’s original appeal. Publishers like Ubisoft have already started subscriptions of their own, and the retro games market could become a battleground in this area (especially with Atari’s recent buyout of Intellivision).
Nintendo Switch
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Weight
- .88 lbs
- Storage
- 32 GB
- Display
- 6.2-inch LCD Screen / 1280 x 720
- Battery
- Approximately 4.5 – 9 hours