Although it’s rarely in the news like Game Pass and PS Plus the number of Nintendo Switch Online subscribers is surprisingly high.
The latest Nintendo financial report shows that the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service now has 38 million subscribers, more than the last figure given for Game Pass and close to that of PS Plus.
The subscription is needed to play most games online but also offers a range of retro games and exclusive titles such as F-Zero 99, with more titles and free DLC available if you subscribe to the more expansive expansion pack.
Nintendo has seen their Switch Online membership base grow steadily since it adopted the now common membership service formula in 2018, even as Game Pass and PS Plus have struggled to attract new subscribers.
The financial report covers results up to September 30, 2023 and shows that not only has its Switch Online service grown to an all-time high of 38 million paying subscribers – it’s up 10 million in two years.
That means Nintendo’s service compares surprisingly well to PlayStation Plus and Game Pass, despite them being far more heavily promoted.
Numbers from Statista show that PS Plus has flatlined and is still on 47.4 million subscribers, from its peak of 48 million at the end of 2021.
Numbers from January 2022 show that Xbox had 25 million Game Pass subscribers back then and while that number has no doubt grown since, the fact that Microsoft hasn’t released an updated figure suggests growth is slow.
By comparison, the last four years have seen a huge increase in subscribers for Nintendo Switch.
It should be mentioned that Switch Online is the cheapest service, costing £3.49 a month, while PS Plus costs £13.49 and Game Pass is £12.99 (for console and PC). PS Plus and Game Pass include many more games though and the Nintendo Expansion Pack is only available as 12 month subscription of £34.99.
Even so, and despite Nintendo’s poor reputation for online services, this shows that Nintendo Switch Online is surprisingly popular and, unlike Microsoft and Sony’s equivalents, has a steadily growing userbase.
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