In an interview with The Nikkei today, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima said the online services for the Nintendo Switch will cost between 2,000 to 3,000 yen annually (anywhere from US$17.50 to $26.50), a very affordable cost compared to the competition. Kantan Games CEO Dr. Serkan Toto also translated text from articles related to the interview.
1) Just in: Nintendo president Kimishima tells the Nikkei Switch's online service will be priced at 2-3,000 yen ($17.50 – $26.50) *YEARLY*.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) February 1, 2017
“With paid [services], we will be able to fully commit to customers,” said Kimishima referring to enhanced services such as multiplayer online games and downloads of classic NES and SNES titles. Online multiplayer gaming and other features have been available for the Wii and still for the Wii U and 3DS, for free. In the case of Sony, online multiplayer gaming is still available for free on PS3 but not on PS4. This feature of playing online against others is a way for Microsoft (with Xbox Live) and Sony (with PlayStation Plus), and soon for Nintendo, to generate additional income.
2) Kimishima says the yearly fees make it easier for Nintendo to support online features such as multiplayer or downloads of classic games.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) February 1, 2017
Also, Nintendo is currently studying ways to add Virtual Reality to the Switch. Kimishima said: “If we are able to resolve the issues with playing [VR] comfortably for long hours, we will support it in one form or another.”
3) He says Nintendo currently "studies" VR + will add VR to Switch once they figure out how users can play for hours without problems. /end
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) February 1, 2017
Recently, Toto added more tweets with more statements from the interview. Among them:
Kimishima said he expects the Switch will be sold as good as the Wii did due to its unique gameplay.
1) More info from the Nikkei interview with Nintendo president Kimishima. He says he expects the Switch to sell about as well as the Wii.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) February 2, 2017
2) [Very bold statement: the Wii sold 101 million times.] He says that just like the Wii, the Switch offers a unique way of playing games.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) February 2, 2017
[Sources]: Nikkei: Nintendo to equip Switch with upgraded web services https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Consumers/Nintendo-to-equip-Switch-with-upgraded-web-services; @SerkanToto
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