Nintendo Switch Online release: As multiplayer finally arrives, here's everything you need to know

Nintendo Switch Online is finally arriving.

It's only taken a year-and-a-half: the Switch was first released in March 2017. But Nintendo hopes that it will be worth the wait, with a host of new features that could improve the Switch immeasurably.

Chief among them is the ability to properly play games online against each other.

There's plenty more besides, including the ability to keep your saves safely tucked up in the cloud, access to classic games, and voice chat (sort of).

But perhaps most notable is the fact all of that is coming for a price. Nintendo has offered its online service for free, until now, but that's coming to an end.

Pricing

Nintendo's pricing is relatively cheap: a year costs $20, as opposed to the $60 that Sony and Microsoft charge for their services. But that's in large part because their services are considerably more deep, as we'll delve into below.

You can also pay monthly, for $4. Or get three months for $8.

There will almost certainly be deals on these memberships. And you'll probably be able to get codes and the like on sites like eBay, which has long offered good deals for getting Xbox Live and PlayStation Network subscriptions.

Problems

For the cheaper price, you'll also get a reduced service.

Games are still going to be peer-to-peer, for instance. That means that unlike battling it out on a devoted server, like on bigger consoles, you're relying on other players to host your games, meaning they might be less reliable.

Similarly, there's no real chat service. Instead, you have to download the Switch Online app and plug your headphones into your phone. It will work, but it's far from ideal or as smooth as the other services.

And one problem – or virtue, depending on how you see it – is that plenty of games won't actually require a subscription. So you might end up paying for it for no reason.

Classic games

The less obvious but perhaps greatest part of Switch Online is that it will also get you access to a whole host of NES games. And they'll all have online tools allowing you to play with other friends.

They include Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda and plenty more besides.

Cloud saves

And as an added bonus you'll finally be able to tuck your saves up in the cloud. Until now, losing your Switch has meant losing your progress, but the new feature should bring an end to that.