I'm at my wits' end. (Nintendo Online Membership restrictions)

[Chungus]

Warning: vent and pity-party ahead.

I need your advice, guys. I have spent nearly ~500 dollars just to play Animal Crossing (60 dollars plus the costs of two systems so I could have two islands). And yet, I find the ability to play or even enjoy my gaming experience to be limited by the Nintendo Online BS.

I paid good money and yet I cannot open both islands at the same time. I cannot trade between the two islands. In the DS days, I could just buy another copy of the game and still play between the two as long as I had separate systems. How come I can't do as much with the Switch, whose technology is supposed to be more advanced? Maybe it's just too advanced for me to comprehend.

I suppose I made my first mistake by buying a digital version of the game. My second mistake came with using the same user profile/online subscription with both islands. I think it's clear at this point that I have to buy a SECOND online membership just to be able to open both games at the same time and be able to play with them. I may also have to invest another 60 dollars just to buy the physical game cartridge. If there is a way to transfer island data between users on the same Switch, I might have to do that, too.

What's my best course of action, guys? Because at this point I am tempted to just erase my second island and send the system back so I can get my money back. This is insane and no way to treat well-paying customers on Nintendo's end.

 

[_Rainy_]

I have two switches with the same digital copy and the same online membership on both Islands. I do need one of my roommates who have their own online membership to open the gates. My advice is to create an alt account and use the trial free membership, but it only lasts for one week. I’d rather pay for an additional membership than pay 60 for a brand new game though. Can’t you use local play to travel between islands? I’ve never done it, but I can test it for you if you’d like.

edit: local play doesn’t work. :/ your best bet would be to use the free trial, but not ideal.

 

[rianne]

Yes, you made two boo-boo's there with getting both digital copies on the same user profile despite having two consoles.

It's being "recognized" by the system as your user account having two islands, which as we know is not permitted. You can have the two console systems and two user accounts registered/linked to a family group NSO subscription. More info from Nintendo Support about family group NSO subscription dynamics.

Note: I am on a family subscription with my partner; we have two accounts, two Switch systems, two digital copies of the game. :/ So sorry that this is all mixed up and things have been rendered moot for you.

 

[-Apples-]

One question. When you said “wit’s end”, what does that mean? I don’t even know what the first word means.

 

[Chungus]

I have two switches with the same digital copy and the same online membership on both Islands. I do need one of my roommates who have their own online membership to open the gates. My advice is to create an alt account and use the trial free membership, but it only lasts for one week. I’d rather pay for an additional membership than pay 60 for a brand new game though. Can’t you use local play to travel between islands? I’ve never done it, but I can test it for you if you’d like.

edit: local play doesn’t work. :/ your best bet would be to use the free trial, but not ideal.

Thanks for testing it out for me! I would love to create an alternate account but I already have my island under the same name. I don't know if there's anything I could do about that...

Yes, you made two boo-boo's there with getting both digital copies on the same user profile despite having two consoles.

It's being "recognized" by the system as your user account having two islands, which as we know is not permitted. You can have the two console systems and two user accounts registered/linked to a family group NSO subscription. More info from Nintendo Support about family group NSO subscription dynamics.

Note: I am on a family subscription with my partner; we have two accounts, two Switch systems, two digital copies of the game. :/ So sorry that this is all mixed up and things have been rendered moot for you.

Now I know that next time, I should just create another online membership plan and/or update to some sort of family/group plan. Thanks for the advice and for linking me to the website! I'll have to check it out.

But with the way things are now, is there absolutely nothing I can do to change my current situation? Can I delete the profile off the second Switch and create a new profile to join in on the family plan, yet still have my island's save data intact?

One question. When you said “wit’s end”, what does that mean? I don’t even know what the first word means.

"I'm at my wits' end" is an expression that means that I have no idea what to do about my current situation.

 

[_Rainy_]

Thanks for testing it out for me! I would love to create an alternate account but I already have my island under the same name. I don't know if there's anything I could do about that...

It’s when you create another player on your switch and have them as another player on your Island you’d still be the rep. You can make an online account for them and either add them to a family account or use the free trial membership for a week. I’m not sure of any other way. It’s pretty lame that you can’t visit your own Island unless you pay more money for an online account.

 

[Chungus]

It’s when you create another player on your switch and have them as another player on your Island you’d still be the rep. You can make an online account for them and either add them to a family account or use the free trial membership for a week. I’m not sure of any other way. It’s pretty lame that you can’t visit your own Island unless you pay more money for an online account.

Do you know if I can transfer island representative status between the two characters without compromising the island's save data? It really does suck, since I'm paying good money for less than what I would have paid for on the 3DS and older systems. That makes zero sense to me.

 

[_Rainy_]

No I don’t think so. You can delete a secondary player, but if you delete the Island rep it resets the Island. That’s what we’re having to do unfortunately because I’m Island rep and I just got my own switch so I don’t have to share anymore. currently cataloging and bringing my stuff to my new Island and once I’m done roommates will reset the Island.

 

[-Apples-]

"I'm at my wits' end" is an expression that means that I have no idea what to do about my current situation.

Thanks. I thought it meant that you are at your climax over Nintendo Switch Online, but now I know what it means.