PSA: You Can't Unlink Your Nintendo Switch Account After Today

After several delays, Nintendo will finally roll out its online subscription service for Switch this week. The service will arrive alongside the console's 6.0 update today, September 18 in North America (September 19 in Europe), which makes this your last chance to ensure the right Nintendo Account is linked to your Switch user profile if you happen to share the console with other users.

According to Nintendo, players will no longer be able to unlink their Nintendo Account from their Switch user profile after the 6.0 update is released. The company sent out the following statement via email providing further details:

"On 9/18, your Nintendo Switch will be receiving a system update, version 6.0.0. Afterwards, it will no longer be possible to unlink your Nintendo Account from your Nintendo Switch user profile. Prior to this change, you should verify that your Nintendo Account or your child's Nintendo Account is linked to the correct user profile.

"For example, please confirm that the parent’s or legal guardian's Nintendo Switch user profile is linked to the parent's or guardian's Nintendo Account, and that the child's Nintendo Switch user profile is linked to his or her child account.

"By ensuring that your Nintendo Account is linked to the correct user profile, you will be able to appropriately manage your save data, Nintendo Switch Online membership, and Nintendo eShop content."

The 6.0 update is scheduled to roll out at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET. After that, you'll need to subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online service in order to play games like Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online against others. Memberships can be purchased in one-month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three-month (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12-month (US $20 / £18 / AU $30) increments, and Nintendo will offer an annual US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55 Family Plan that can be shared between up to eight Nintendo Accounts. You'll be able to try a seven-day free trial of the service beginning September 18.

In addition to online play, subscribers will have access to a library of classic NES games. Members will also be able to back up their Switch save data via the cloud, but you'll need to have an active membership to maintain cloud saves. Additionally, not all Switch games will support cloud saves.