Nintendo Switch Online has been steadily growing since its launch. Its catalog of classic games has expanded over the months, along with some of its additions. The latest news was the release of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, which adds DLC for games like Animal Crossing's Happy Home Paradise and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass. But the new features don't stop there. Nintendo Switch Online will now also have Missions & Rewards , a new system that presents challenges which can be redeemed for items.
What is Nintendo Switch Online Missions & Rewards?
Missions and Rewards is a new addition that Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to enjoy starting in March 2022. This service is similar to PlayStation trophies and Xbox achievements, but it is implemented in a very unique way.
To access this new feature, you'll need to open the Nintendo Switch Online app, located in the row of round buttons on the console's main menu. Once open, click on ' Missions & Rewards ' in the left sidebar, and then on the red Super Mario mushroom icon at the top labeled ' Missions '. Access is only available if your Nintendo Account has a Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, either individual or family.
This tab will display various missions . Completing them will earn you platinum points . The objectives rotate regularly, with new ones appearing every Monday, each with a deadline. You can check your progress in the same menu, seeing both the available missions and those remaining to earn platinum points.
What are platinum points for?
If you owned a Nintendo console a few years ago, you might remember their Star Program . Each game came with a scratch-off card containing an alphanumeric code. Entering this code on their website added the stars to your account. You'd also receive a few extra stars on your birthday and even a few more if you visited their website daily. These stars could be used to purchase a wide variety of Nintendo merchandise , from wallpapers to exclusive games like The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition . Unfortunately, Nintendo eventually discontinued this program, though they did maintain a points system that could be redeemed with every purchase on the eShop or when verifying a Switch game card. The Platinum Points program is very similar to the Star Program, as we'll explain below.
Redeemable Items on My Nintendo
Well, this points system is how Nintendo is bringing back its famous and beloved loyalty program . When you accumulate a good number of points (note that they do expire), you can redeem them for physical items on the My Nintendo website. You'll need quite a few to get decent items, but it's definitely a feature we welcome with open arms.
icons and backgrounds
On the other hand, you can also exchange them for " icons ," meaning images that you can place on your Nintendo account profile. Until now, you could only use your Mii or one of the images provided by Nintendo in the gallery. Now, for a few points, you can also download images from various video games, as well as custom backgrounds for your avatar on the console. This doesn't mean you'll be able to change your console's background, but rather the background of your avatar itself. You can combine a frame and a background to create an avatar entirely to your liking using the unlockables that will appear weekly in the shop. It might seem simple, but it replaces the plain-colored backgrounds that were available until now.
Regarding the icons, they will be released by title. Each month, a different video game will be featured. By clicking on it, you can redeem Platinum Points for one of the available avatars. The first video game chosen is Super Mario Odyssey , and its icons will be available until April 3, 2022. After that date, it may no longer be possible to purchase one of those icons.
In addition, Animal Crossing will have a permanent section . Each month, the game's residents whose birthdays fall on that date will be featured. Each character can be purchased for 10 Platinum Points, so if you're a fan of a particular character, don't forget their birthday!
How to Earn and Redeem Platinum Points
Whether you want to use your points before they disappear from your account or you're interested in getting yourself a handful of these tokens, here's how to proceed:
get platinum points
Missions
New missions will appear each week in their corresponding section on Nintendo Switch Online . We will receive different rewards in the form of Platinum Points depending on the requirements. Some of these missions are as follows:
- Use compatible programs with the online game: in this case, by connecting any video game that has an online section we can claim said reward.
- Use the saved in the cloud.
- Use NES, SNES or N64 games: for the first week, has been chosen Super Mario Bros. (1985) as a featured game with which they will give us 50 points just for playing a game.
- Use applications.
- Others: We assume that Nintendo will incorporate more complex missions as the weeks go by, such as meeting certain requirements in some video games or breaking some records.
Play smartphone games and visit My Nintendo
You can also earn Platinum Points by playing Nintendo mobile games where your Nintendo Account is linked. Currently, the three games confirmed for this new loyalty program are Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp , Fire Emblem Heroes , and Super Mario Run.
On the other hand, we will also receive a small reward each time we visit the My Nintendo website , just like in the old days.
How can I find out when my points expire?
If you visit the My Nintendo website , you can view your points balance, expiration dates , and history . A six-month forecast will be displayed showing how many Gold and Platinum points are set to expire soon on your account.
How can I redeem the points?
Redeeming your Platinum Points is very easy. Go to the My Nintendo website and you'll have access to a large catalog of small items that you can buy with your points. Some are only available with Platinum Points earned from a specific video game. For example, some Animal Crossing items can only be purchased with Platinum Points from Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.