The Nintendo Switch is an immensely popular gaming console. The device from gaming giant Nintendo is portable, but also usable with entertainment centers and TVs. With all this great functionality comes additional data usage concerns. So, what do you need to know about data use on the Switch?
On average, gaming on the Nintendo Switch uses around 50 MBs of data per hour. For more online-intensive games, this number can be as high as 500 MBs per hour. Usage varies widely depending on the game. Downloading a game over your network “costs” the size of the game in data.
Knowing how much data you’re using is crucial, especially if you’re paying per MB for your internet. So, how do you know how much data you’re using when you’re gaming on the Switch? What tools can you use to monitor your data usage? We’ve got all those answers and more; just read on!
Nintendo Switch Data Usage
When it comes to modern gaming, it’s all about the data. Games these days are packed with all kinds of advanced visuals and gameplay technology that use tons of data.
Moreover, with more and more games requiring online access to use, a good network connection is critical to a proper gaming experience.
For gaming systems like the Nintendo Switch (on Amazon), using data is just a part of everyday use. But, for those watching their internet bills, what do you need to know when it comes to data usage?
While data usage for the Nintendo Switch depends on your network and the games you play, on average, you can expect to use about 50 MB per hour. Sometimes this figure can be much higher, at around 500 MB per hour, or lower, at 40 MB per hour.
It’s hard to know the exact numbers without looking at your specific gaming habits. Are you playing loads of online games and streaming videos? In that case, you may end up on the higher end of this scale. Are you only playing off-line single-player games? In that case, you may not use that much data to begin with.
And before we head into the next section, be sure to note that if you want to see other guides on the Nintendo Switch’s storage, like how many games the handheld can mange before you need to SD card, or what to do if your storage is full, be sure to see our other resources. If you have problems with your gamecard reader, or you just want to peruse the most common bundles, we have a guide prepped for most cases here!
How Much Data Do Popular Nintendo Switch Games Use?
As we mentioned earlier, data usage is all about the games you decide to play. That said, the switch has all kinds of games available. Each one will have different data usage metrics. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re online, you’re using data.
Keep in mind that modern games use data for all kinds of things. For instance, you may not be online playing with your friends, but the game might be using your connection for background tasks.
While this isn’t always the case, sometimes developers leverage this exchange so they can pack more details into a game without putting a huge strain on your storage.
Additionally, some games won’t even work without an internet connection. This goes for single-player games, as well. So, if you’re looking for some specific examples, what do you need to know?
Here are a few popular titles and their data usage:
- Animal Crossing — 10 MB per hour
- Super Mario Odyssey — Upwards of 150-300 MB per hour
- Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Can be played offline/No data usage
As you can see, there is quite a bit of disparity between different games. Your best bet to understand your data usage is to test your connection.
How Can You Test Data Usage on Your Nintendo Switch?
If you’re looking for a surefire way to monitor all your data usage, there are a few simple methods you can try. First, you have a whole host of free tools available online that can help you get to the bottom of the data usage question.
The trick is finding one that lets you easily capture data from specific devices/IPs. For our purposes, we’ll focus on a free tool called Wireshark.
Wireshark is a free tool available for both Windows and OSX. Here is how to use it:
- Download Wireshark.
- Connect your Switch to the same network you intend to use Wireshark on.
- You may want to unplug/disconnect all other internet devices. This is not necessary, but it can help the process.
- Locate your Switch’s IP address. Do this by going to System Settings, then Internet. From here, you’ll need to scroll down to see your Switch’s IP address.
- Open Wireshark.
- Start using your Switch.
- You should now see network activity from your Switch.
- Load up your favorite game and start playing. Note the results.
Now you should have a good benchmark for how much data you’re using. As you’ll see, these figures vary from second to second. If you can, get a few different readings to help find the average. Once you do that, you can load up other games to see the difference in data usage metrics.
How Long Does It Take to Download Nintendo Switch Games?
Data usage is much more than just gaming. It’s also all the other functionalities of the Switch. While things like Netflix and other streaming apps certainly make a dent, another aspect of the Switch, and other modern gaming consoles, has a sneaky way of eating up your data.
We are talking, of course, about downloading games. This process can end up using quite a lot of data, and it can take a long time too, depending on a few factors. How long are we talking?
While it will depend on the size of the game and your network connection, on average, it takes around 20 to 40 minutes to download a full-sized game. Some smaller, simpler games will take only a few short moments, while bigger games can take up to an hour.
Game size is the biggest factor. While some games may be only a few hundred MBs, full-size games can top in at a whopping 10 GB of data. The good news is that most developers have a hierarchy of important data, meaning the elements you need to play are downloaded first.
This means you might have access to the game before the entirety of the package has finished downloading. Smaller games, like those under 300 MB, might take five minutes to finish up.
The next factor you should consider is your internet speed. If you have the latest and greatest 5 GHz wireless network, you can expect some blazing fast speeds. If you’re stuck on public WiFi, it will certainly take a bit longer.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to the Nintendo Switch and data usage, there are a few factors you need to consider. First, the games you play have a huge impact on your data usage. Online-intensive games can eat away at your data with needs of up to 500 MBs per hour. Other games may not even need internet access.
Additionally, downloading games can use a lot of data. Downloading just one game could take up to an hour, depending on your network.