Nintendo has announced a new membership level for Nintendo Switch Online that includes the ability to play classic N64 and Genesis games both online and in four-player local co-op. Released in late October, the Nintendo Switch Online+ expansion pack will feature a number of fan favorites from the 32-bit and 64-bit gaming eras, including Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Streets of Rage, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Star Fox 64. Nintendo says the plan will be available to both new and current subscribers to the online service, but hasn't yet announced pricing for the new service. Finally, alongside the launch of the new subscription level, Nintendo is creating two new wireless versions of the Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis controllers that will be available at launch for $49.99 (about $35, AU$70).
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We've heard rumors that Nintendo 64 games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online, but the new membership level is a big surprise. Adding new games to the service certainly makes it more valuable, but without a price tag, fans might worry about the extra amount they'll have to shell out to gain access to the expanded library of titles. Of course, the cost of Nintendo Switch Online is currently nowhere near the cost of PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate/Xbox Live Gold, so this is a way for Nintendo to increase the price while offering a little more content. If there's a silver lining to the news, it's that Nintendo already has plans to add more titles to the service, including other N64-era gems like Banjo-Kazooie and F-Zero X, which should continue to justify the monthly cost of the plan. .