Does Palia Need Nintendo Switch Online To Play

With Palia arriving on Nintendo Switch consoles globally on 14th December 2023 in its announcement trailer during The Game Awards 2023, the game has been available to Wishlist since its initial announcement. With the cozy MMO arriving shortly, players have wondered whether a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to begin their journey or continue their in-game experiences on the handheld console.

Whether they're an existing player or a new player jumping into the game, players will want to know if they'll need a subscription before joining the game. This helpful resource guide will explain whether they'll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in order to play Palia at launch on the Nintendo Switch.

Do You Need Nintendo Switch Online To Play Palia?

According to the official announcement post, developer Singularity 6 confirmed that not only is the game free-to-play (F2P) and available to download from the Nintendo eShop, but the game will not require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play the game. This entails that players can download the game and connect their Palia account to continue their adventures in Kilima Village and Bahari Bay and enjoy the bevy of content, including those added in the v0.175 patch update.

The gameplay, mechanics, and content are the same as its PC version that players have already explored, but there are a few differences. According to the developer, "Nintendo Switch players can expect minor differences in visual fidelity, such as our 30 frame-per-second cap."

Additionally, Palia does support crossplay and cross-progression between PC and Nintendo Switch, meaning players have the freedom of choice to play on their favorite and chosen platforms and join their friends in servers on either platform. New players joining the game must create their account from the Palia Accounts page, which we've detailed in this guide, before linking it from the login screen on the game's Nintendo Switch version.

Players can't use their Palia account when logging in on the Nintendo Switch version if they're already logged in on the PC version. It's important to note that new players who have yet to join Palia can be invited to join if they have friends already playing or are referred using the Refer-A-Friend referral link to claim various rewards.

Speaking of rewards, there are unique rewards for players joining Palia on the Nintendo Switch at launch on 14th December 2023. Players who've linked their Palia Account will be able to earn the Leapfroggy Outfit and Mushroom Glider skin, which can be claimed from the Inventory page when in-game, but the Leapfroggy Outfit will be available for a limited until 14th January 2024 at 11:59 pm PT.

It's important to note that to claim and equip the Mushroom Glider skin, they must have completed the Like A Bird quest, which we've detailed in this quest guide. Furthermore, they can change the Glider skin by visiting their crafted Wardrobe at their home or Jel's Tailor Shop cash register.

Palia is currently available in Open Beta for PC, as players can install the game launcher detailed in this guide. The game is slated to be released for the Nintendo Switch on 14th December 2023.