While last night gave us more news about Nintendo Switch Online, this morning gave us a bit sadder news about the status of Virtual Console on Nintendo’s newest console. Speaking to Kotaku, Nintendo has said;
There are currently no plans to bring classic games together under the Virtual Console banner as has been done on other Nintendo systems. There are a variety of ways in which classic games from Nintendo and other publishers are made available on Nintendo Switch, such as through Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo eShop or as packaged collections. Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online will provide a fun new way to experience classic NES games that will be different from the Virtual Console service, thanks to enhancements such as added online play, voice chat via that Nintendo Switch Online app and the various play modes of Nintendo Switch.
So, while the Nintendo Wii, 3DS and Wii U all had their own version of the popular Virtual Console, it looks like the Nintendo Switch will not be having one, in a manner of speaking of course. This does not mean we won’t be getting SNES, N64, or even Gamecube games on Nintendo Switch, they just won’t be flying under the “Virtual Console” banner. Whether they become available as part of a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, or released as their own collections, remains to be seen, but it appears that Virtual Console is no more.
There is a chance that Nintendo wants to update these classic titles to take advantage of the new features announced for Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online, like competitive and co-op online play and the ability to pass the controller to a friend. Also, third-party publishers are planning/have released their own classic games in such ways as the Neo Geo arcade, and the newly announced Sega Ages, so it would be safe to assume the Switch will have no lack of classic titles.
How do you feel about this news regarding Virtual Console? I know that, personally, it has been one of my most requested features for the Nintendo Switch, and while we now know it will not be coming back as Virtual Console, I’m glad to see that it looks like it will still be coming back in some form. Let’s hope we hear more about their plans at E3 and get some more classic games on this system soon.
