Nintendo Drops Collection Of Switch Freebies Amid Online Price Surge

Nintendo has done its users a solid and dropped a collection of freebies to enjoy, but at the added cost of higher Switch Online prices for some subscribers.

As it stands, Nintendo Switch Online isn’t a horrible deal. Depending on which tier you go for, you’ll get access to online play for games like Mario Kart World and Splatoon 3, in addition to an enormous library of classic games.

But it could be a lot better. We need more retro games added, and we need those new additions to be consistent, not as and when Nintendo feels like it.

What Nintendo is very loose with however, are its freebies, but the latest set has been dropped in parallel with the news of another price-hike.

Nintendo Switch Online Is Becoming Even More Expensive For Some Gamers

From July 1 onwards, the price of Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions will be increased for those living in Japan.

We won’t bore you with the full extent of the changes but keep them in mind, as we’ll probably see another price hike later this year for other countries. It hasn’t even been that long since the last increase, but current market conditions have been forcing loads of companies like Xbox and PlayStation to reconsider its subscription costs.

At the same time, Nintendo announced for all subscribers that new songs will be added to Nintendo Music, an app that should be free to be honest but requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for some reason.

The soundtrack from the Legend of Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, is being added to the service, and to commemorate its 30th anniversary, a curated playlist of Nintendo 64 music has been put together.

Relive iconic musical moments from a variety of select Nintendo 64 games now on #NintendoMusic!

🎶 Listen to the new Nintendo 64 Selects playlist today: https://t.co/v8dFAY7S2E pic.twitter.com/N078pPut9r

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 23, 2026

Now the Nintendo 64 playlist is a delightful trip down memory lane but it doesn’t have the DK Rap from Donkey Kong 64, so what’s the point?

These freebies are fine but they hardly justify the rising cost of Nintendo Switch Online. For a pricey membership, you get an online player, a random assortment of retro titles, some soundtracks and those endless Nintendo Switch icons. It’s hardly a great deal at the moment.

The retro game libraries are a double-edged sword, too because if you actually like retro games, the service is probably worth the money, but if you don’t, there’s really no point subscribing to anything other than the basic package.

Compared to Xbox and PlayStation, Nintendo has a lot of work to do if it wants to make Nintendo Switch Online worth the money.

While these freebies are sort of cute, they do little to offset the frustration of simultaneous price-hikes.

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