Super Smash Bros Ultimate Mural“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” will feature more than 70 playable fighters.“Super Smash Bros Ultimate”/Nintendo

“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” is the biggest Nintendo Switch game of 2018, bringing some impressive upgrades and the largest roster the series has seen so far.

Online play has been a part of the franchise since “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” arrived on the Nintendo Wii in 2006. However, Nintendo’s handling of online play has historically lagged behind other game developers, earning the company a reputation for subpar matchmaking, unstable connections, and limited rewards for dedicated players.

The Switch is the first Nintendo console to require a subscription for online play ($20 per year), and there is hope that the added investment will translate to a better online experiences overall. Nintendo has overhauled the online modes in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” to tackle some of its past issues head-on. A recent Nintendo Direct livestream fully detailed how online play will function in the new game with the Nintendo Switch Online service.