You'll have to pay for Nintendo Switch's online play, but they're getting rid of region locking
You'll have to pay for online play with Nintendo's Switch, the company announced today in its Thursday livestream presentation.
Paid subscription services aren't new to online consoles but it is for Nintendo. You'll be able to try it out for free on a trial basis at launch, but you'll have to pay for a subscription after that grace period ends in the fall.
There was no mention of the subscription service's eventual price. PlayStation Network costs $50 per year and Xbox Live Gold costs $60 per year (though it can often be found for less).
In better news, the Switch will do away with region locking. Many of the more recent hardware releases from Nintendo have been "locked" to prevent games released in other regions from running.
The Switch will forgo that restriction, a move that should make the import-loving community very happy.
With additional reporting by Adam Rosenberg.
Topics Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Switch
Tina is the Games Editor for Mashable. She is a born and raised New Yorker. She received a degree in Media, Culture and Communication at New York University, where she also began her writing career. Tina has been editing and writing about video games for 8 years, working across various outlets including Complex Magazine and the former Gawker's Kotaku. She's an excellent first-person shooter player but favors stories above all. She also has the world's softest cat.
