Nintendo Switch Online is becoming the ultimate classic gaming platform

Nintendo Switch Online may not have a flawless reputation, but its game library is nothing to sneeze at. With the service set to continue on Nintendo's next console, Nintendo Switch Online's catalog of retro games could be an important asset for the company going forward.

In a recent statement, company president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online will play a role in the company's next console. Specifically, Furukawa confirmed that NSO will remain in place as part of Nintendo's efforts to ensure backwards compatibility with the next console, colloquially known as the Switch 2. In regards to what can be inferred from this news, it's likely that NSO will continue to grow throughout of the entire period. the life of the Switch 2, possibly expanding the range of classic games even further.

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How Nintendo Switch Online is becoming a powerful retro game

The popularity of this aspect makes expanding the Switch Online library not only possible, but likely. Nintendo Switch Online has been controversial several times since it first introduced paid online services for Nintendo consoles. From the infamous lag issues, especially with games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Mario Maker 2to the dumb voice chat integration, Switch Online has never been particularly popular compared to online play on other consoles.

Still, NSO's treasure trove of retro games has often been a point of pride. The initial slate of NES games was a decent start, but the introduction of SNES titles is what really caught the attention of fans. Now with two subscription models, including an expanded option that includes N64, GBA, and Sega Mega Drive games, Nintendo Switch Online's retro repertoire continues to grow. Considering how many of these old games have long since fallen by the wayside, the service really fills a big gap in the market — time is only increasing, with more and more retro games being lost to time every year. If Nintendo keeps this momentum going, potentially increasing the number of retro studios under the NSO banner, the service could be one of the Switch 2's biggest strengths.

Switch Online continues to grow and has expanded beyond Nintendo

As previously stated, NSO wasn't overly impressive upon launch – its offering of NES games did little to compensate for the service's other shortcomings. However, there are now over 100 games on NSO, and that number includes Sega games. Sega has been absent from the console market for a long time, and its older games haven't held up as well as Nintendo's classics. Fortunately for retro fans, the company's lineup at NSO has expanded even further, with more Sega Genesis titles arriving this November.

That's not to mention the other deals Nintendo would have to make to carry over NSO's current catalog. A bright example can be Banjo kazoo series; at the end of 2024 NSO completed the duology by adding Banja Tui. Microsoft's buyout of Rare meant that particular IP was tied to the Xbox for years, making its return here notable even in the context of the inclusion of Bear and Bird in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Making these deals with Sega and Microsoft is an example of the lengths Nintendo is willing to go to make NSO a hub for retro gaming, so the company can go even further.

The future looks bright for Switch Online, but it must remain ready for competition

Nintendo Switch Online has a lot going for it, which might be bad news for those who prefer the Virtual Console system. The biggest challenge facing NSO, however, is its place in the current subscription service climate. In film and television, Netflix's success has led to thousands of copycats splitting the media into dozens of services and squandering some of streaming's original appeal. Publishers like Ubisoft have already launched their own subscriptions, and the retro gaming market could be a battleground in this area (especially with Atari's recent buyout of Intellivision).

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