--- description: Nintendo's online mobile app for the Switch debuts July 21 alongside Splatoon 2, allowing users to send multiplayer invites and voice chat. title: Here's When You Can Try Nintendo's Switch Mobile App image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt821f0e0c0f2ead2a/6988d4b8096a94423f69eab5/splatnet2-en.png?branch=production&width=640&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Here's When You Can Try Nintendo's Online Mobile App for the Switch  by [Lisa Eadicicco](/author/lisa-eadicicco/)  ## Lisa Eadicicco Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 6, 2017 8:40 PM CUT  Nintendo  by [Lisa Eadicicco](/author/lisa-eadicicco/)  ## Lisa Eadicicco Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 6, 2017 8:40 PM CUT Nintendo Switch fans will get their first look at the console’s new mobile companion app starting July 21, the company revealed on Thursday. During a Nintendo Direct livestream held to [further detail _Splatoon_ 2’s launch features](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170706005372/en/Splatoon-2-Details-Revealed-Freshest-Nintendo-Direct "undefined"), the company also said its Nintendo Switch Online mobile app will premiere concomitant with the quirky, cooperative ink-based shooter’s release. Through the app, _Splatoon_ players will be able to send multiplayer invites to friends over social media, check online battle stats, view gear and — crucially and for the first time on the platform — use voice chat in battles. The goal of the app, per [Nintendo’s website](http://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/ "undefined"), is to enhance the online experience for compatible Switch games. The version of the app launching on July 21 will have limited features, and at this point only appears to support _Splatoon 2_ (it’s even dubbed “SplatNet 2”), though expanded functionality and game compatibility down the road are implicit. Nintendo’s paid online service is still listed as [launching in 2018](http://time.com/4802593/nintendo-switch-paid-online-service-2018/ "undefined"), though the company has yet to divulge feature specifics. It’s only said the service will allow subscribers to download classic Nintendo titles and access special eShop discounts. **Read more:** [8 Things We Learned After Playing _Super Mario Odyssey_](http://time.com/4842219/super-mario-odyssey-multiplayer-impressions/ "undefined") The basic service, which includes online gameplay and voice chat (for designated games), will remain free until the paid version debuts next year. Nintendo will charge $3.99 for a one-month membership, $7.99 for three months and $19.99 for a year subscription. The companion app is among Nintendo’s first smartphone releases, following the launch of the Switch’s parental control app and mobile games such as _Super Mario Run_ and _Fire Emblem Heroes_. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4847986/nintendo-switch-online-app-release-date/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4847986/nintendo-switch-online-app-release-date/"},"headline":"Here's When You Can Try Nintendo's Online Mobile App for the Switch","datePublished":"2017-07-06T20:40:20.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:51:16.192Z","description":"It launches on July 21 alongside Splatoon 2","url":"https://time.com/4847986/nintendo-switch-online-app-release-date/","keywords":["Tech","Smartphones","Video Games","nintendo switch"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt821f0e0c0f2ead2a/6988d4b8096a94423f69eab5/splatnet2-en.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lisa Eadicicco","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/lisa-eadicicco/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt821f0e0c0f2ead2a/6988d4b8096a94423f69eab5/splatnet2-en.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"splatnet2-en","caption":"","creditText":"Nintendo","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4847986/nintendo-switch-online-app-release-date/","name":"Here's When You Can Try Nintendo's Online Mobile App for the Switch"}}]}] ```