Nintendo Switch Onlinehas had its fair share of hiccups since releasing worldwide in September 2018. With that being said, a low annual cost and theaddition of NES and SNES gameswere great steps in the right direction toward combating any issues that consumers have had with online connectivity and the less than stellar Nintendo Switch mobile phone app.
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What is a Nintendo Switch Free Game Trial?
Unlike a demo or beta, Nintendo made it so that any progression would carry over if users decided to buy the full game once the trial was over. On top of that, while the free trial was only available to Nintendo Switch Online users,Mario Tennis Aceswas also given a 30% discount on the Nintendo Switch eShop from the start of the free trial until August 20th - a full week later.
How Could Nintendo Expand on Free Trials?
Plenty of AAA games on the Nintendo Switch eShop have demos available to download and for many of them, progress does carry over. However, demos are very limited vertical slices of the overall experience and they’re not always going to reflect the full game. Offering a limited-time free trial gives NSO users the chance to play as much or as little as they want across any game mode without limitations.
Other Potential Games
At the same time, there are plenty of first-party Nintendo games that have sold very well but could still benefit greatly from this kind of attention to either boost sales or get the game in more player hands for a potential sequel in the future.Arms,Hyrule Warriors,Pokken Tournament DX,Kirby Star Allies, andYoshi’s Crafted Worldare just a handful of games of where this could have or could still benefit. All of these games have sold between 1-3 million copies, impressive numbers at launch, but they’re nowhere to be found on the sales charts each month likeMario Kart 8 DeluxeorSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
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For many players, the cost is one of the most significant factors that prevent them from being able to play the vast majority of high-profile AAA games that release each year. Free game trials aren’t going to change the world when it comes to Nintendo Switch Online, but they are a great idea that couldbenefit both Nintendo and players.
Nintendo Switch Online is currently available for $3.99 per month, $7.99 for 3 months or $19.99 for a 12 Month subscription - much cheaper than what PlayStation and Xbox offer. Nintendo also offers a Family Membership which costs $34.99 for 12 months and can be shared between up to eight Nintendo accounts.
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