As of September 30, 2024, Nintendo announced that its Nintendo Switch Online service boasts over 34 million subscribers. This update came during a presentation by the company’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, held at their second-quarter financial results and corporate management policy briefing. The presentation delved into the evolving landscape surrounding Nintendo’s dedicated video game platform business.
Interestingly, the subscriber count marks a dip from the 36 million reported back in September 2022. Nintendo pointed to a drop-off in new game releases featuring online play over the past year as a reason for this reduction. Yet, there’s a silver lining: subscriptions to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack have been on a “steady rise” since its launch in 2021.
In a bid to add more allure to the service, Nintendo’s latest offering is Nintendo Music—a music streaming service exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members, accessible via a smartphone app.
Curious about whether Nintendo Music might eventually cater to non-members, a shareholder raised the question during the session. Furukawa clarified:
“Nintendo Switch Online is fundamentally about enriching the Nintendo Switch experience, and that core mission remains intact.
“With Nintendo Music, we’re offering Nintendo Switch Online members the chance to enjoy Nintendo game music on their smart devices. Game music is a significant aspect of our content library, and this service embodies our strategy to broaden access to Nintendo’s intellectual property. We wanted to present this game music to consumers in a distinctively Nintendo way.
“Our hope is that listening to Nintendo Music stirs memories of playing our games, potentially encouraging players to dive back into them.
“Ultimately, we believe Nintendo Music could be an extra incentive for users to keep their Nintendo Switch Online memberships active.”
