Nintendo Switch Online to offer N64 and Genesis games with new subscription plan
Relive your childhood by playing four-player N64 and Genesis games locally or online
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
There’s a new subscription tier for Nintendo Switch Online that includes the ability to play classic N64 and Genesis games both online and in four-player local co-op, the company revealed duringa surprise Nintendo Direct eventSept. 23.
Due out in late October, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will include a number of fan favorites from the 32-bit and 64-bit eras of gaming including SuperMario64, TheLegend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Streets of Rage, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Star Fox 64.
Nintendo says the plan will be available for both new subscribers and current subscribers of the online service, but has yet to announce a price point for the new service.
Finally, alongside the launch of the new subscription tier, Nintendo is creating two new wireless versions of the Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis controllers that will be available at launch for $49.99 (around £35, AU$70).
Analysis: Two announcements for the price of one
We heard rumblings of Nintendo 64 games coming to Nintendo Switch Online – but the new subscription tier is a big shocker.
Adding new games to the service certainly does make it more valuable, but without a price tag attached to it, fans might worry about how much extra they’ll have to shell out to have access to the expanded library of titles.
Admittedly, the cost of Nintendo Switch Online currently isn’t anywhere close to the cost ofPlayStation PlusorXbox Game PassUltimate / Xbox Live Gold, so this is a way for Nintendo to increase the price while offering a bit more content.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
If there’s a silver lining to the news, it’s that Nintendo already has plans to add more titles to the service – including other gems from the N64 era like Banjo-Kazooie and F-Zero X – that should continue to justify the plan’s monthly cost.
Nick Pino is Managing Editor, TV and AV for TechRadar’s sister site, Tom’s Guide. Previously, he was the Senior Editor of Home Entertainment at TechRadar, covering TVs, headphones, speakers, video games, VR and streaming devices. He’s also written for GamesRadar+, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade, and he has a degree in computer science he’s not using if anyone wants it.
Nintendo finally confirms that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible
Don’t miss this rare sale on the Nintendo Switch Lite: Animal Crossing Bundle
One more AMD eGPU docking station goes on sale — but it doesn’t have USB 4.0, can’t accommodate an M.2 SSD and requires an OCuLink connector to feed the RX 7600M XT chip
