Nintendo has agreed to disable auto-renewal for Nintendo Switch Online subscription services in the UK following an examination by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
When someone bought a Nintendo Switch Online subscription before, they were automatically signed up for auto-renewal when their subscription ran out. New subscribers will have to manually allow auto-renewal under this new agreement.
Sony, like Nintendo, will make a similar change to its PS Plus program, which was also the subject of the CMA’s probe.
Michael Grenfell, CMA executive director of enforcement, said about the probe in a statement published by Gamesindustry.biz:
As a result of our investigations, a number of improvements have been implemented across the industry to protect customers and address concerns regarding auto-renewing subscriptions,” says the report. As a result, today’s announcement marks the end of our inquiry into the online video game industry. Companies in other industries who offer auto-renewing memberships should check their policies to verify that they comply with consumer protection laws.
UK only for now
Nintendo confirmed in a further statement to The Verge that auto-renewal is disabled exclusively on the “Nintendo eShop and on the Nintendo website in all countries and areas that are administered by Nintendo of Europe.” It is unclear whether the adjustment will be implemented outside of the United Kingdom at this time.
