The Nintendo Wi-Fi connection which allows Wii users to play multiplayer online games has been completely free to use since it’s launch. That is soon to change however with the announcement that Nintendo plans to introduce charges in order to make use of the online play capabilities of some games. By introducing this cost, Nintendo believes they can make full use of the online play option and offer features that were previously impossible.

Our guess is that this decision will have been made hand in hand with the upcoming Animal Crossing game. In order to have a fully thriving online community and perhaps even economy within the game, it might be necessary for Nintendo to charge a nominal fee to the user.