TheNintendo Switch OnlineExpansion Pack’s price has been revealed, and some fans aren’t enthusiastic. This new plan for the subscription service costs around $50 individually, and $80 for the family plan. The only option for the Expansion Pack is yearly, in comparison toNintendo Switch Online’s monthly option for the basic membership.
This price has been a debated topic since it was revealed as part of the recentAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsDirect, some fans evendisliking the trailer for the NSO Expansion Packon YouTube. With that cost in mind, many fans are wondering if the amount is worth its perks. Truthfully, that depends on the customer’s interests, and what they value out of the Expansion Pack’s offerings.
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Nintendo 64 Games on Nintendo Switch Online
When the Nintendo 64 games were announced to beincluded as part of the Expansion Pack, plenty of fans were on board. For roughly as long as the NES and SNES titles have been available on the platform, many wanted to see the collections branch out and feature other consoles. Plenty of games from Nintendo’s console generations of old are hard to get or completely unavailable, so the idea of the Switch becoming a retro gaming hub was a dream for many.
Now that N64 has joined the lineup, there’s a harsh reality to face. TheNintendo 64 collectionis getting nine games when the service goes live, with a fair few others said to come down the line. With titles like theLegend of ZeldaN64 games andBanjo-Kazooieon those lists, it seems promising, but one important thing to note is that these games will likely be drip-fed like other collections have. Players may want to hold their money until more titles they’d pay the price to play are on the service.
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Nintendo Switch Online’s SEGA Genesis Games
A surprise announcement when the Expansion Pack was revealed was that the plan wouldinclude Sega Genesis gamesalongside the Nintendo 64 titles. While it shocked a few fans, it makes sense that this partnership exists, and it’s a good addition to the service. Nintendo’s confidence in Sega selling can be clearly seen, but that may also be its downfall.
The Sega Genesis' lineup, through Sega’s own initiative, is already widely available on platforms such as Steam and even mobile devices. There’s already a collection of the games on Switch, which touts over 50 Genesis games on one cartridge for a price that comes out cheaper thanthe Expansion Pack plan. Considering only a few Sega Genesis titles have been confirmed for the service, this may not be worth the price to fans.
Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s Happy Home Paradise DLC
Another surprising perk of the Expansion Pack is that those paying for the yearly subscription can getthe new DLC forAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsfor free. The DLC offers all kinds of things for players, such as new customization options, the interior design modes seen inHappy Home Designer, and a lot of furniture to go with it. With everything available, the DLC being included in the new subscription plan seems like a wonderful bonus. However, fans might want to look at the fine print.
Happy Home Paradiseonly costs $25 dollars on its own, and getting it through the Expansion Pack requires having the subscription active in order to play. If the plan is canceled, players will keep the items and upgrades they’ve earned playing the DLC, they just won’t be able to go to the archipelago to design vacation homes. At the very least, theinclusion ofHappy Home Paradisegives players a great way to trial the DLC and see if they like it. The presence of the DLC being treated as included in the plan with “no extra cost,” however, seems to imply a precedent. Future expansions to games may come with the service, which gives plenty of Expansion Pack adopters the chance to get DLC as part of their yearly payments almost for free.
The price tag ofthe individual Expansion Pack planis a bit much, but it should be said that the family plan is a good deal. With it being roughly $80, and still able to include up to eight account holders, that means a group of friends could plan to split the price and pay $10 dollars per year. With new details being added, that is a steal. The best thing players can do right now regarding theNintendo Switch OnlineExpansion Pack is to keep their eyes on it, wait until more is added to the offerings, and then pay when they get exactly what they’d want.
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