As Xbox faces an uncertain future, a reader contends that Nintendo Switch Online has quietly become a far more successful subscription service than Game Pass, achieving similar subscriber numbers without the hype or high costs.
The rise of Nintendo Switch Online
While playing Star Fox 64 on Nintendo Switch Online, reader Onibee Arrow realized the service has come closer to being the Netflix of gaming than Game Pass ever did. Despite initial expectations that Game Pass would revolutionize the industry, it struggled due to high prices, a lack of compelling first-party titles, and the reality that most players lack time to explore vast libraries.
Nintendo Switch Online, by contrast, boasts roughly the same number of subscribers as Game Pass—around 30 million—according to public reports. Arrow attributes this to the Switch's larger install base, lower cost, and a curated retro library that offers familiar, high-quality titles without overwhelming choice.
Why Nintendo's model works
The service includes games never before released in the UK and multiple regional versions, adding value. Exclusive titles like Tetris 99 and the necessity of a subscription for online play further drive adoption. The Expansion Pack tier, though pricier, includes additional retro formats and free DLC, yet remains affordable enough that Arrow often forgets he's paying for it.
"It’s reasonably priced, it doesn’t pretend to be the be all and end all of gaming, and it offers things you actually want," Arrow writes. Unlike Microsoft's aggressive promotion of Game Pass, Nintendo takes a quieter approach, letting the service become a standard part of Switch ownership.
Lessons from Netflix
Arrow draws parallels to Netflix's success: a service that feels like a basic necessity or a last luxury to give up. Nintendo Switch Online has reached that point for Switch owners, while Game Pass never achieved similar loyalty for Xbox. The reader concludes that Game Pass's failure stems from overpromising and underdelivering, while Nintendo's understated approach has built a sustainable subscriber base.
