Nintendo has long been one of the top dogs of video game software, but its handling of hardware and other features in the modern era has left something to be desired. This is especially true with anything involving online capabilities, with the company lagging behind Sony and Microsoft when it comes to even getting down the basics of online gaming features. Unfortunately, that trend has now continued in the worst way possible with the company's new Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.
Fans are absolutely livid over the Switch's new online expansion, with the service charging more money for bad infrastructure and laggy versions of gaming relics. As mentioned, this is reflective of many of Nintendo's issues as a whole, and it threatens to destroy the forward momentum and goodwill garnered by the Switch's early success. Here's why the service has quickly become so controversial and how it could be fixed.
Switch Online Expansion Pack
The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack is a sort of upgraded version of Nintendo's pre-existing online membership program. Along with the features that the normal version of this service offers, such as online play for various titles, those who upgrade to this version also get several classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, with the former now boasting online play.
It also includes a new expansion to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Happy Home Paradise, which is sure to bring new life to one of the Switch's most popular and successful titles. Players get all of this for $49.99 a year. Unfortunately for Nintendo, many fans aren't happy about any of this, and they've made it abundantly clear with their reception to the new service.
Why Fans Hate the Switch Online Expansion Pack
Most fans have heavily criticized the announcement from Nintendo, seeing it as proof of how out of touch the company is concerning online features, quality-of-life console features and gaming in general. The price is an incredibly poor value. While Nintendo Switch Online was never anything too impressive, the $20 a year price tag made it feasible. The staggering 2.5x price hike is a lot to swallow for fans who were already receiving a service they never really thought about.
The addition of retro titles was seen by some as a sort of throwaway consolation prize, though it was made worse by how horribly they run. These emulated versions of what should be enticing, classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis titles not only have poor online play, with basic features such as ghost data for Mario Kart 64 being unusable, they're riddled with input lag and bugs, making even classic titles seem like beta tests. On top of all of this, the $49.99 price tag is immediate and must be paid in full, as the feature does not allow monthly or other small payments. Quite simply put, the value just isn't there for the massive jump in price, and fans are calling Nintendo out on it.
How Nintendo Can Fix the Switch Online Expansion Pack
The obvious ways to fix the Switch Online Expansion Pack debacle would be to improve the service's performance and to reduce the price. Performance issues and bugs in old titles should immediately be rectified, with Nintendo's online service as a whole being due for a true overhaul to make for a more seamless experience. While many regarded the NES Online and SNES Online apps to be lacking features and regular updates, those were easily dismissed by fans because of the low cost of the service.
This brings us to pricing, a huge sore point with fans. Even if Nintendo weren't to lower the monthly cost to a more reasonable price, the inability to pay monthly for the service is inexcusable. Users shouldn't feel robbed by paying an arguably huge sum of money for decades-old online gaming and a single expansion. Adding other expansions besides Happy Home Paradise would also be big selling points, especially for more competitive and hardcore titles. Sadly, Nintendo is known for being a fairly strict about their online offerings, so it seems unlikely that any changes will come to the service that could increase the value from where it is now.