Why is the Nintendo Online Expansion Pack So Expensive? An In-Depth Guide
I‘m sure you‘ve seen the $49.99 price tag for the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack and thought, "That seems kind of expensive compared to the regular $19.99 NSO membership. What‘s the deal?" As your gaming business insider, let me walk you through the reasons behind the pricing.
It Mainly Boils Down to Licensing Costs
After digging into the details, it appears the main driver of the Expansion Pack‘s high cost is the fees Nintendo had to pay to license all of the retro third-party games from companies like Sega, Rare, and Square Enix.
Back during the Wii Virtual Console days, Sega wasn‘t thrilled with the revenue they earned from licensing their Genesis games to Nintendo. So this time around, Nintendo likely paid a premium rate to get Sega classics like Sonic 2 on the Expansion Pack.
The same goes for Rare‘s classic N64 games like Banjo-Kazooie and Perfect Dark, which can‘t be cheap for Nintendo to license. And for each new retro game added to the service, Nintendo has to shell out more in fees.
The Math Doesn‘t Add Up
To put it in perspective, the Expansion Pack offers:
- N64 games: 9 currently available
- Sega Genesis games: 14 currently available
- Animal Crossing DLC
- Mario Kart 8 DLC
If you were to purchase the AC and Mario Kart DLC separately, it would cost around $25 total.
That means the remaining $25 of the $49.99 is going towards those 23 retro games – over $1 per game. Considering licenses likely cost much more, Nintendo is probably losing money on the Expansion Pack upfront.
Room for More Value Over Time
While the current game selection is limited based on high licensing fees, Nintendo has said more N64 and Genesis games are coming.
- If they can grow the retro catalog to 50+ games, suddenly $50 per year becomes a decent value at around $1 per game.
- There are also rumors of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games being added down the road, which would further boost the value.
So in essence, you‘re paying a premium now for the promise of more content later. Over the next year or two, the price may seem more reasonable if Nintendo delivers on expanding the retro game library.
Should You Buy it? Let‘s Weight the Pros and Cons
Okay, so now that we understand the costs behind the scenes, should you spring for the Expansion Pack? Here‘s a quick pros vs. cons breakdown:
Potential Pros
- Access to N64 and Genesis classics like Zelda, Mario 64, and Sonic
- Get Animal Crossing and Mario Kart 8 DLC packs
- Play iconic retro games on Switch convenience
- More free game trials than the regular NSO
- Rumors of Game Boy/Game Boy Color games being added
- Possible access to more modern DLC packs in the future
Potential Cons
- Currently only 23 N64/Genesis games available
- Paying a premium upfront for undelivered content
- Animal Crossing and Mario Kart DLC can be purchased separately
- Online play doesn‘t require the Expansion Pack
- Concerns over laggy N64 game performance
The Verdict?
If you really want access to those N64 classics and love Animal Crossing/Mario Kart, it may be worth it for you. The nostalgia factor alone could justify the price tag for some retro enthusiasts.
But for more casual gamers, the basic NSO membership is probably sufficient – especially since Nintendo may take a while to flesh out the Expansion Pack‘s game library.
Hope this cost breakdown gives you a better sense of the reasoning behind the Expansion Pack‘s high sticker price. Let me know if any other questions come to mind and I‘m happy to provide my take as your gaming business guru.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some rapid-fire answers to common questions on this topic:
Is the Nintendo Online Expansion Pack worth it?
For retro enthusiasts, AC/Mario Kart fans, and households it can be worth it. More casual gamers are probably fine with the basic NSO.
Is it a lot more expensive than regular Nintendo Online?
Yep, it‘s $49.99 per year versus $19.99 for regular NSO – over double the cost!
What are you actually getting for the price?
Main perks are access to N64 and Genesis games, Animal Crossing/Mario Kart DLC, and free game trials.
Will they be adding more games?
Nintendo says they‘ll expand the N64 and Genesis catalogs over time, along with rumors of Game Boy/Game Boy Color down the road.
Could they offer any deals on it?
Potentially! Watch for limited time promotions taking $5 or $10 off around the holidays/sales events.
Can you download the games forever?
You maintain access to downloaded Expansion Pack games as long as your membership stays active. They go away if it lapses.
Hope this FAQ summarizes the key questions around the Expansion Pack‘s pricing and value! Let me know if any other queries come up.