Nintendo Switch Online Surpasses 34 Million Subscribers

As of September 30, 2024, Nintendo announced that their Nintendo Switch Online service has secured over 34 million subscribers. This update came directly from Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, during the company’s presentation on their second-quarter financial results and management strategy. The discussion focused on how the changing landscape has influenced their dedicated video game platform.

Interestingly, the subscriber count marks a drop from the 36 million subscribers reported in September 2022. Nintendo explained this dip as a result of fewer game releases over the past year that emphasize online play. On a positive note, there’s been a steady rise in subscriptions for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack since it was launched in 2021.

To enhance the appeal of Nintendo Switch Online, they’ve recently rolled out Nintendo Music. This music streaming service is a special perk for Nintendo Switch Online members and is accessible via a smartphone app.

During the presentation, a shareholder inquired if Nintendo Music might eventually be available to those without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. In response, Furukawa stated:

“Our aim with Nintendo Switch Online is to enrich the Nintendo Switch experience, and that goal remains steadfast. Nintendo Music is crafted for our Nintendo Switch Online members, granting them access to our game music on their smart devices. Music from our games is a significant part of our content offerings, and we see this as a strategic move to broaden the reach of Nintendo’s intellectual property. Nintendo Music was introduced as a unique method to share this music with our fans.

“We hope that, by listening to Nintendo Music and reminiscing about the games, players might feel inspired to revisit those games. Consequently, we believe Nintendo Music will serve as an additional motivator for maintaining a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online.”