Pokemon Sword and Shield Players Without Nintendo Internet Access Might Be Able to Buy Online Features Separately

The fine print in Pokemon Sword and Shield hints at the probability of players getting the chance to purchase online options for the game.

Are you worried about the fact you won’t be able to play with your friends online when you get Pokemon Sword and Shield because you don’t have Nintendo’s online access subscription? You might be in luck. According to Nintendo’s official website and page for the game, players might be able to purchase these online features separately without needing to have bought the subscription.

To find this information, you’re going to need to read the fine print a little bit more thoroughly near the bottom of the product’s webpage. You don’t want to go too far. It’s immediately under Pokemon Sword and Shield’s rating, and the supported play modes players can play the game on their switch. When you get to it, it should look like this:

The significant bit you want to look for is the “This game includes an in-game purchase option for users who do not have a membership.” This statement is hinting at the fact players without the online access subscription might be able to buy options for online play. It would provide those who want to play these Pokemon titles online with their friends, but don’t want to go all the way with the Nintendo subscription.

It would provide Nintendo with an exciting model to approach. Some Switch owners may only play a handful of games and may not want to buy the full Nintendo Online subscription because they would only use it for one game. This method would provide their players with a handful of options, and it could open up the door for other players to have the same treatment.

Why does this type of phrasing stand out? It’s compared to other fine print phrasing of different games. For example, in Mario Maker 2’s store page, you’re going to see this:

The finer details are “Internet access required for online features.” Unlike Sword and Shield, players need to have access to Nintendo’s Online service. The Sword and Shield page suggests otherwise.

We’re going to need to see how much Nintendo wants to charge for this service. It could turn out players may wish to exclusively purchase the online subscription service because it works better for their budget.

At this time, we don’t have the full details. When we do, we’ll make sure we have that information available for Pokemon Sword and Shield owners to properly make an excellent financial decision, so they have the best game experience with their upcoming title.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are releasing for the Nintendo Switch on Nov. 15.