Nintendo is releasing an adults-only N64 Switch app in Japan
N64 18+ Switch Online will launch alongside GoldenEye and Jet Force Gemini
Nintendo has announced it’s releasing a separate, adults-only Nintendo 64 Switch Online app in Japan.
Nintendo 64 Switch Online 18+ will be released alongside GoldenEye 007 and Jet Force Gemini on November 30. Unlike the subscription service’s other N64 games, Japanese users will be required to download and launch the separate app in order to play the two classic Rare titles.
The drastic circumvention is almost certainly due to Japan’s age rating requirements. Both GoldenEye and Jet Force Gemini are rated ‘Z’ in Japan, which means they’re banned from sale to any person under the age of 18.
Z is the only CERO rating regulated by the Japanese government and requires titles to be displayed separately from other software and age verification upon purchase.
GoldenEye 007 was added to Switch Online in the West earlier this year. Nintendo’s Japanese arm likely held back its addition until it could find a solution for the age ratings requirements.
In the West, Nintendo announced on Tuesday that Jet Force Gemini is the next game set to be added to Switch Online’s Nintendo 64 library.
Rare‘s classic action game will be released in December, though a set date has yet to be confirmed.
When it comes to Switch Online next month, Jet Force Gemini will bring the total list of N64 games on Switch Online up to 27 in the west, following the addition of Mario Party 3 in October and Pokémon Stadium 2 and Excitebike 64 in August.
Switch Online’s Expansion Pack tier launched in October 2021 alongside a library of Nintendo 64 games. Nintendo has confirmed that 1080° Snowboarding and Harvest Moon 64 will be added to the N64 library in the future.
