Nintendo Switch firmware update 6.0.0 detailed ahead of Online launch

Yesterday, Nintendo finally confirmed the launch date for the Switch's paid online service. Nintendo Switch Online, as it's called, will be launching on September 18, and beginning on that date, you'll need to pay a subscription fee in order to play games online. Today, Nintendo detailed the firmware update that's coming along with the Switch Online launch, and it's making some changes that Switch owners should definitely know about.

Nintendo has a few different help articles centered around Switch firmware update 6.0.0, but the biggest thing you need to know is that once this update has been applied, you won't be able to unlink Nintendo Accounts from their associated Nintendo Switch user accounts. This probably won't be a big deal for a most people, but if you've got multiple Nintendo Accounts linked to multiple Switch user accounts, you'll definitely want to make sure that everything is in order ahead of September 18.

These help articles were first discovered by a user on ResetEra, and it's important to point out that even after this update goes into effect, you'll still be able transfer Nintendo Accounts between Switch consoles. You can still only have one Switch designated as your active console at a time, which means that your digital library and cloud saves won't be available on any other Switches, but this is handy for when your main console is lost, damaged, or stolen and you need to get a new one.

Nintendo says is a separate article that the Switch eShop will go offline for maintenance after this firmware update is released. Here in the US, maintenance will begin at 5PM Pacific/8PM Eastern and run for three hours, coming back online at 8PM Pacific/11PM Eastern. Once the eShop comes back up, you'll need firmware update 6.0.0 in order to access it.

It's also then that you'll be able to purchase a Nintendo Switch Online membership if you haven't already pre-ordered a code through retailers like Amazon. As far as Nintendo Switch Online is concerned, we'll hear more about it during a Nintendo Direct broadcast later today. Stay tuned, because we'll have everything you need to know from that Direct right here at SlashGear.