The Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) Expansion Pack is a higher tier for the subscription service which primarily allows Switch users to access online multiplayer. It was announced during the September 2021 Nintendo Direct with the promise ofN64 and Sega Genesis librariesbeing added for users. However, it was later revealed this tier will cost around $50 USD for individuals and $80 for a family plan per year; a huge increase from the base subscription’s $20/$35 split. Another perk justifying its price is access toAnimal Crossing: New Horizon’s paid DLC, which begs the question if more DLC such asMonster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakcould also be roped in.
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Monster Hunter Rise as a Nintendo Switch Staple
Monster Hunterhas become a largely Nintendo-centric franchise over the years, even if2018’sMonster Hunter Worldbroke the patternby releasing on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.Monster Hunter Trireleased on Wii, with its ultimate edition coming to Wii U and 3DS.Monster Hunter 4and4 Ultimatealso released on 3DS alongsideGenerations, withGenerations Ultimatethen releasing on Switch in 2018 (somewhat making up for the lack ofWorld).
WhenMonster Hunter Risecame out this March, it was a Switch exclusive - and a successful one at that, having shipped 7.5 million copies worldwide as of September 24. This number will undoubtedly balloon whenRise’s PC port drops on August 04, 2025, especially considering there will be no cross-play support. While it pales in comparison toAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsselling over 31 million copies in its first year,Monster Hunter Rise’s sales numbers make it a massive success for Capcom, to the extent it may be willing to join the NSO Expansion Pack comeSunbreak’s summer 2022 launch if Nintendo wants to continue expanding its scope.
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Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Could Make NSO a Crossover Juggernaut
LikeAnimal Crossing, Monster Hunteris a series which thrives by the strength of its online community. Nintendo’s major competitors Sony and Microsoft have proven the benefits of dropping large multiplayer experiences onto services with huge installed bases;Marvel’s Avengerscoming to Xbox Game Passbeing a recent example. It’s clear Nintendo understands this given Happy Home Paradise’s inclusion in the Expansion Pack, as well as the addition of online multiplayer to retro titles.
IncludingMonster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakin the overall package could help keep its Switch fanbase coming back, even if some will undoubtedly migrate to the PC port. Given Sega Genesis games are part of NSO’s Expansion Pack already, it seems Nintendo is willing to strike deals with other companies. This may be a key to the service’s success going forward. Much likeXbox Game Pass’s first-party day one release strategyis bolstered by a steady stream of third-party games, Switch Online’s legacy collections could be bolstered by weaving in DLC and more from its development partners.
Nintendo added SNES games to NSO well after the service launched, so it’s not farfetched to imagine the Expansion Pack will get this same treatment. Any new additions, be theylibraries for Game Boy and GBA titlesor DLC beyondAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, will bring its contentious price closer to something reasonable for a lot of fans.
Monster Hunter Riseis available now on Switch, with a PC port releasing July 17, 2025. Sunbreak releases summer 2022.
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