NSO Game Removal Shows Again YOU DON'T OWN DIGITAL GAMING CONTENT!
31For years, I have talked about the fact that there's no real reason to purchase digital games; you don't actually OWN THEM! The state of California has even changed its laws, requiring digital content distributors to change their terms and eliminate the words sell, sale, buy, and purchase from their listings. While it hasn't been uncommon for games to leave PlayStation and Xbox for the first time, Nintendo is removing a game from the Nintendo Switch Online Service, once again demonstrating that you don't own digital gaming content.
Now, I will put a caveat here in that these subscription services give you access to a library of games, you're not purchasing any of them. However, when Nintendo launched the NSO the implication was that once a game was live it would remain in the library. But now we have word that Super Soccer, also known as Super Formation Soccer
"Nintendo: "This game will no longer be available starting 3/27/25 at 6:00 p.m. PDT.""
It's a soccer (or football for those of you outside the USA) game, so what's the big deal? Well, it sets a precedent that games we once thought would be on the service in perpetuity, but that clearly isn't the case as this shows. Now, this IS a 3rd party title, and I am sure that has some measure of impact here. I don't foresee this happening often on 1st party of Nintendo titles, but it does indeed set a standard that games can and will be removed from the service at any time!
The interesting part about this to me is this is happening, along with other changes with Nintendo, as the launch of the Switch 2 is on the horizon. Does the reduction of services between this and the elimination of the Platinum points have anything to do with offering fewer add-on services with the new system? Either way, the timing is definitely curious.
I think the timing here is bad, and even if it's unrelated to the Switch 2, the visuals are terrible. Nintendo should have rethought or renegotiated when this was happening, if at all possible, to avoid connecting one with the other.
#NintendoSwitchOnline #NSO #Nintendo #SuperSoccer #DigitalGames #Switch #Switch2