Jump directly to the content
NS-NO!

Nintendo warns Switch fans they could lose money – here’s how to avoid it

Nintendo has sent out a warning for Switch owners to double check their vouchers

GAMERS are always on the hunt for bargains, with many going to great lengths to save a few pounds on games, which can get very expensive at times. 

One of the ways that gamers can save money is through the Nintendo Switch Online voucher program. 

The upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door can be purchased with a voucher
1
The upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door can be purchased with a voucherCredit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Online vouchers come in sets of two, costing £84 for the pair, and can be redeemed for first-party Nintendo-published games. 

Given most first-party Switch games cost £50, and some even cost £60, buying games through the voucher program can save up to £25 on full price games. 

Nintendo Switch Online vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase, and new first-party games are added as they become available for preorder. 

Because of this, many gamers opt to buy vouchers in advance, in anticipation of upcoming games.

More on Nintendo

Nintendo has issued a warning, though, for players to be mindful of the expiration date of Nintendo Switch Online vouchers, as the expiration might be sooner than you think. 

In a tweet from the Japanese Nintendo account, the company noted that the vouchers actually last for 365 days, and not a calendar year like many would expect. 

For the most part, this typically equates to exactly one year, but 2024 is a leap year, so tickets bought before February 29, 2024 will expire one day earlier in the following year. 

Nintendo uses the example of a ticket bought on May 12, 2023, which if 2024 were not a leap year, would expire on May 12 of the following year. 

Because 2024 is a leap year, though, the ticket would instead expire on May 11, 2024, because there was an extra day. 

Switch owners are advised to double check the expiry date on Nintendo Switch Online vouchers, which they can do on the Nintendo eShop on their console, in the User Account menu.

Nintendo Switch Online offers a range of benefits to subscribers, including hundreds of retro games across NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Nintendo 64, and Sega Mega Drive. 

It also includes DLC at no extra cost for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Splatoon 2. 

All the latest Nintendo Switch reviews

Get the lowdown on more of the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.

Topics