Nintendo has announced it will launch its paid subscription for its Nintendo Switch online services in September. The services are currently still available free of charge.

According to a 2017 press release, the online services for the console, which include multiplayer gaming, will be part of a paid subscription service that launches in 2018. Players will be able to purchase membership per month, per three months or per twelve months.

The prices of the paid subscription service have also been announced: one month will cost $3.99, the three months will cost $7.99 and twelve months will cost $19.99.

When Nintendo launched the Nintendo Switch back in March 2017 the company already confirmed that online services would be available for free for a limited time only. The paid subscription service was supposed to launch last fall, but will now launch in September.

With the paid subscription service players will be able to join multiplayer games, use voice chat apps, access to several classic titles, and access to Nintendo eShop deals.

When the service launches, players will no longer be able to play multiplayer games with their friends free of charge and are thus required to purchase membership to continue playing. This change is likely to make the console a lot less popular.