Why 'DC Universe Online' Is The Perfect MMO For The Nintendo Switch?
Dec. 2, 2019

When you think of MMOs, you probably don't immediately think of the Nintendo Switch as the ideal platform, but after spending a few hours with it I can say that free-to-play MMORPG, DC Universe Online from Daybreak Games, is absolutely the perfect MMO for the Switch.


Usually when someone settles in to play an MMORPG like The Elder Scrolls Online or World of Warcraft, they're intending to set aside their real life in favor of indulging in the fantasy of what it would be like to exist in Tamriel or Azeroth. To put it simply MMOs are a huge time investment and you could easily spend years playing the same game without doing everything there is to do.


Since DC Universe Online is an MMO, that means it requires a constant internet connection and much of its content is designed to be played over long stretches of time with other players. Occasional lack of internet access, generally small storage capacity, and limited battery life are typically not conducive to a good MMO game, so the genre hasn't taken off on Nintendo's latest console yet.


Even though DC Universe Online originally came out over eight years ago, it feels more modern than that when playing on Switch. The UI still looks good, triggering abilities is simple, combat is fluid and not like most traditional MMOs. The zones are massive and fun to explore whether it be by flight, super speed, or bounding around like a super-powered acrobat.


And the character creation system is just out of this world. Everything from the color scheme of each part of your costume to your powers and weapon of choice can all be tweaked as you see fit. It's a powerful system that really lets you create the superhero of your dreams.


With DC Universe Online launching on Switch that means a brand new client and a new server. Your account will not carry over from other platforms if you've played in the past and everyone is getting a fresh start. But this isn't the type of MMO that requires grinding for 1,000 hours just to get to the marginally fun parts.


The way content releases work in DC Universe Online is when a new episode releases, it's free to everyone, even completely free players that haven't spent a penny, until the next one comes out. There's also a rotation of other content to try for free as well. If you want complete access to all the content at any time you can either become a paid subscriber to the game or purchase individual content packs.


In addition, Daybreak monetizes DC Universe Online in a few other ways as well. There are some features locked behind pay walls like lairs but it's all totally optional. And in a game like this, cosmetics and costume pieces are of course hugely popular.


There's even a Legends system that lets you play as iconic characters in PvP in which you can even buy alternate versions of classic DC characters too. Since this is a game world about you making your own mark with a unique hero you can't fly around Metropolis as Superman in the main game.