Virtual Boy Is Being Added To Nintendo Switch Online

I want the special edition, with Dramamine

What in the world…

Ironically the biggest reaction I've ever had to any announcement ever lol

Absolutely hilarious! I've probably never laughed out so loudly before and can't wait to see the reactions to it all over the internet later ...

Mental, didn't see that coming. Certainly didn't see it coming to NSO before Diddy Kong Racing.

Nintendo Labo VR Kit 2.0

It said only available in US and Canada. Did everyone miss this? It was a big white banner.

OHHHHH MY GOD.

This is genuinely funny and cool. I've always wanted to try Virtual Boy Wario Land, at least.

Also, it's amusing how Nintendo has stopped denying the existence of the Virtual Boy and started poking fun at itself with it over the years.

I like how Virtual Boy games are now "classic"! Speaking as someone who's had one since way back, it's about time! Well, there are a couple of really good titles anyway - like Wario Land and Galactic Pinball.

Seriously can we get to play these on 2d without an extra device...

Ugh. Was hoping for DS games.

@CrankyBonesGaming NO. YOU'RE PLAYING THESE GAMES THEY WAY GOD INTENDED AND YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT

All I could say was why? Quit acting like virtual boy was some fondly remembered piece of gaming bliss. It wasn't. 🙁

@Truegamer79 got this instead of any new updates to existing apps like GCN or N64. Ridiculous

That is very unexpected! Ha ha

Am I wrong in understanding the accessory is necessary?

If so, I think I’ll continue just playing in 2D via emulation. I don’t want to buy a big (presumably expensive) accessory for like 2-3 good games.

Either way, it’s nice to see Nintendo stop pretending like the VB never happened and embrace it.

Interesting timing, as I just installed the VB emulator "Red Viper" on my New 3DS. Which works amazing btw.

Who asked for this? XD

@Truegamer79

No, but it had some great games on it, that deserves to be played again. VB Wario Land is my favorite in the series.

Best news of the Direct for me, no joke. My childhood VB finally fell to the decayed ribbon glue and I haven't gotten around to finding someone to do the fix. Red Viper on the 3DS works fine and is great with the shader update, but there's just no substitute for playing games like Teleroboxer and 3D Tetris without the eyepiece. It'd be the best if they also release a dual dpad VB controller or at least if someone makes a right joycon with a dpad.

@EvenStephen7
Only to play it in 3D.

@Boston_J

Honestly almost the whole direct has been underwhelming. Mario galaxy movie, new Galaxy collection, DK Bonanza DLC and RE 7,8 and 9 were the highlights. Oh and Metroid prime 4 release date reveal.

Did not expect VB games to the NSO, thats cool.
The fact that you need an accessory to play them though, not so much.

I didn't ask for it but I absolutely love it!

It's the one piece of Nintendo's history that I've never had the opportunity to experience since a demo at Nobody Beat the Wiz

Can’t use this, but buying anyway. (Send Help)

Can't believe they actually did it. And in the most extra funny way possible. I will have to try and get that full stand because my goodness that would be so cool

I think it's silly that you need a subscription and an accessory to play this. It should either be playable without the headset or the headset should include permanent access to the games. That said, this is both a hilariously random announcement and a genuinely exciting one because I kind of want to play VB Wario Land.

Edit: Just occurred to me this might work with Labo VR, which would save me a bit of money

@norwichred becuase you watched the US version of the stream (which is the most popular channel), the other regional streams didnt have that warning.

This is wild! Any idea on prices?

Absolutely wild lol. Excited to finally play Virtual Boy.

@fenlix three people did actually:

• me
• myself
• and I

I was 100% sure this was a bit like they was going to reveal an 3D screen add-on to play VB games and then go "since we have a 3D screen, might aswell have some 3DS games" or something.

Wait... It requires an add-on? Pffff, hard pass.

The only thing I don't like is that the games require the expansion pack. So to use the accessory I need to not just be subscribed but subscribed to the higher tier. I get it, but the option to buy a card/download bundle of the games would be welcome too.

If this had leaked, no one would have believed it

Only Nintendo, man.

It´s a ridiculous announcement to be sure. I doubt anybody was asking for it.

But it was a pretty fun out-of-left-field-moment, and I´d get a laugh or two out of it if the replica-shell was available to me - which it probably won´t be. I doubt it'll sell many consoles, but I applaud the sheer "because we can" of it all.

Additional: I kinda wish this wasn't a NSO thing. Like you bought the accessory and you hot the games on a card.

Like I understand the NSO controllers are best used in their NSO apps, you can still use them on other games. This is only useful with the NSO app.

The accessory should come with a subscription to reward anybody who is foolish enough to buy it.

But I say that thinking it would be a very cool accessory to sit on the side.

I understand why playing with the dedicated Virtual Boy accessory would be optimal, but why on earth is it essential?
Couldn't you just play the games as you would play 3DS without the effect on?

so unexpected but so exciting! here comes the headaches

Christ on Fire. A complete Game & Watch collection would have been a better call than this.

At least they should be done with updates for it in fairly short order - if there are any. I've seen complete ROM dumps that barely break the 80-megabyte mark - and they include PD demos. Just put it all up, find a pokey corner of a shelf somewhere, hide it and be done. Don't even put it in the expansion half.

Cool, I can't imagine flippers/scalpers will want their mittens on this.

lol. A collectors item if ever there was one that’s for certain!!! When they said NSO, I was like,.:: here comes DreamCast and then….. pow!!! 🤦‍♂️

Bet this sells more than the Virtual Boy ever did

@Vil is there a price yet. That’s when the reactions will get unhinged.

Gotta love the way the marketing material said "virtual boy"

Lmao, eye strain simulator

@ROMhaiku Depending on price, I'm ready to buy!

This was a huge surprise, but seriously... why can't we play them in 2D? Is 3D an absolute must? I hope this version doesn't come with the extra headache!

I will save some money and use my Labo VR kit.

I'm guessing that Japanese Virtual Bowling is what Nester was based off of, but they still OWN Nester, so why not just use his version? Is that one of the few ROMs they lost?

Also, is that the entire library minus Waterworld?

Is the cardboard version a low-cost replacement for the main unit?

That was funny I was like are they about to announce DS and then this came up 😂 I probably won't bother with this but good news I suppose for game preservationists out there

Virtual Boy never got much more than 15 games, so i wonder how much they will charge for the headset.

If this was standalone I would buy it. Attached to the service. I’m out. And I’m amazed Nintendo fans who constantly hated things locked behind dlc and subscriptions or key cards because of preservation somehow do the mental gymnastics to think this is OK or “good enough”. 14 games all locked away. Great.

@Uncle_Franklin It's just not a quality experience without the 3D, man. I'm not even kidding.

@Max_the_German Can we use Labo VR? I have one sitting right here in front of me. If they are selling a new cardboard version but we can't use the old one that's messed up. Not that I'll be subscribing to NSO+EP anyway, not until it gets a better name.😝

Surely this is a joke, who wants this? It was terrible

I've been eyeing buying a Virtual Boy for collection's sake for years, so this would make for a good workaround if the price is right.

But dont miss the fact that this accessory lives and dies by a subscription to Nintnedo's online service and current console dimensions.

I mean, it’s awesome. But I’ve already played these games in 3D on my 3DS.

And it’s not a library I would dish $$$ to have a virtual boy stand for 2 worthwhile games.

@N00BiSH
Really? I know someone that has played some of the games on an emulator on their phone.

As the owner of a VB missing the kickstand plus 2 copies of Mario's Tennis, Galactic Pinball and Panic Bomber, I'm here for VB Wario Land and Teleroboxer.

Now, If I cannot play docked (which would suck but I understand why) but I can handheld or tabletop modes, that would bring it closer to a Virtual Boy Lite.

Just hoping this thing will include a head strap. That was one of the big flaws of the original Virtual Boy. For a console that was marketed as being portable, the lack of a head strap really hampered your ability to actually take it on the go. So a head strap for both versions of the accessory would really come in handy.

Honestly I was pretty surprised by this but I doubt I would ever play this since the accessory is mandatory. Still pretty cool though.

@Uncle_Franklin I’ve played them in all their 3D glory. It’s easy to install the emulator in the 3DS.

Definitely one of the biggest curios in Nintendo's history. And it sucks that Yokoi left Nintendo soon after the thing bombed and that was his last real contribution there. The man built modern Nintendo in so many ways.

This is great!! Hopefully they make plenty, because the scalpers will be out & end being just as expensive as the real thing.

The fact that we got this and so few switch 2 games…has to be a troll job.

Well I am stoked. I have a VB with a 4 game library right now. I'm excited to see how it compares.

An expensive physical accessory that can only be used on rental games?! 🤦🏻‍♂️

This should have been a goggle + cartridge bundle. As it stands, this is sadly an easy skip. 😢 I'd have loved this otherwise.

You know what? Sure, why not.

@rjejr The cardboard VB looks very much like the Labo VR kit, but with the option to house the bigger Switch 2.

Honestly never played the Virtual Boy but always wanted to give it a go

i might actually buy that thing as long as they DON'T make it a limited release like they tend to especially as it's required for the games

It's a shame that it's locked behind the Expansion Pack, but hopefully anyone who gets this enjoys using it!

This out of left field announcement was the most funny part of the entire Direct.

This was one of the coolest moments of the show. I feel like it might be even more incredibly niche than the original Virtual Boy, but I'm still happy it exists.

My biggest complaint is when one day they discontinue the NSO/ Nintendo Classics, all the accessories we bought (Virtual Boy accesory, GameCube, N64 controllers etc) will be useless relics since there’s no option to buy the games.

@RupeeClock This 50 Hz reminder is very helpful!

I definitely am a museum gamer, so I have been wanting something like this for a long time. Price will matter, though. Is the cardboard thingy featured a cheap alternative to the stand?

Now I can play Jack Bros (the first SMT game to come out in America)
without paying a thousand dollars!

this was the winner of the direct for me though I dont like this being tied to a subscription. I wanted the og but the collecting would get too expensive and all the everdrives r sold out.

Haha fantastic. Day one

A curiosity.... but nothing more.

I really really want it.

I will likely never own the real thing so would love the headset just for the novelty factor!

Absolutely amazing stuff!

They had a solid decade to do this on a handheld whose entire gimmick was native 3D, and they instead decide to fill the landfills with this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrkYB4Q7gwk

If you could play the games on TV, then sure, count me in! But apparently you need to get that accessory to play...

I'm in. I don't think I'll take it out of the box though. They will go all out with the boxing!

Lol i can imagine all the hate click videos titled "SWITCH 2 MAKES YOU GO BLIND?!?!"

Huh. Well, this is definitely...something.

This is bonkers. But you need the accessory, so I wonder what the price will be. And they didn't give a release date for it, only the games. Can't we assume that it will be the same??

Back in 2014, I tried WiiMednafen with the SpyKids 3D glasses for a solid 5 minutes before never using it again.

Just think of all the money/resources Nintendo could have used to bring out a rare GBA title, or a GC game that required special attention... but instead they use it for this garbage.

I'm glad they're doing the cardboard one. I expect the real one will be pricey. I wonder if there will be any differences between the two.

uhhhh… ok? cool? I just need to know if this will work with my Toy-Con VR or not

Wow. Another money grab by Nintendo! Here's some "free" games for subscribers, but only if you buy this expensive controller. Everyone hated these games when they came out, so you pay pay pay to try them out! Motion sickness comes free of charge!

This is the absolute worst thing they could have done with the VB Virtual console. Forcing you to get a replica of this flop of a console, just to play the entire 14 game catalogue is absurd.
I still have my virtual boy and it is, rightfully, collecting dust in storage. I bought it used from Blockbuster when the console flopped and they stopped carrying rental consoles. I got it and every game for like $100. Teleroboxer and Wario Land are about the only ones worth playing, but not with the neckstrain of the accessory that is needed to play this nonsense.

Who asked for this over something more exciting?

I'm not going to try this, but it sure surprised me.

First VR with Labo, now again with Virtual Boy. Anyone else thinking that Nintendo is eventually going to turn the Switch into a VR system, or release VR games for it?

Oh, the accessory is required? That's a very Nintendo thing to do. I only wanted to play Wario Land, so guess I'm still emulating it.

I worked at a software etc. when this first came out. We had three of them set up in the back of the store to demo.... At least 50% of the time when someone would go back and try the virtual boy they would leave sick... a few even threw up in our store. So, every time someone would go back to play on them, myself and the other employee would cease our conversations to see what was going to happen next. Ahhh, the good ole days.

Just got my pre-order in

no i don't care what others think i think it's neat

Just let us play without the stupid peripheral. It really is not necessary. We didn't need that thing to see the footage in the Direct, and we don't need it to see it when we play regularly on our systems. This is ridiculous.

This is Nintendo being Nintendo. The part that I'm not so enthusiastic about unfortunately.

No idea if any of the games are actually any good either.

i thought they learned from their mistakes

@sp1oopy "I don't like it, nobody should be allowed to have it!"

There's gotta be a way to play these games as basic games, right?

Somehow, this was the highlight of the Direct for me. Probably because it was so out of left field, and I got a good laugh out of it. Day one buy.

They remember Virtual Boy, that's awesome. Can't wait to try VB Wario Land soon. That's the only Wario Land game missing in my life right now.

Sometimes Nintendo you are just the most Nintendo.

@N00BiSH im one eyed tho...

@FullbringIchigo I think it was your post that made me aware pre-orders are up in Australia, thank you! The Virtual Boy's always been a bit of a mystery to me and I'm keen to try VB Wario Land legitimately, bring on the wait!

@norwichred Just pre-ordered one in the UK.

lol @ the stop liking what I don't like salt this announcement has brought out. We're going to be enjoying Virtual Boy games and no one can stop us. The library of games has always had a small handful of greats. The delivery system was the problem.

anyone have a clue how to play games using Labo? What is securing it to your face?

Cardboard model £16.99 realistic version £66.99

I'm sure there was absolutely no way to get these working without having the consumer buy an expensive piece of plastic that's good for this one single thing, and then you run out of the subscription and you're literally left with a piece of plastic, genius.

Completely unnecessary, but cool for the people that enjoy it.

Now how about good GameCube games?

@Kroko who said i didnt like it lol? the virtual boy was seen as a commercial failure though

It's annoying they didn't include this as part of the 3DS Virtual Console.
Yes it's cute and "very Nintendo" that they have a separate attachment, but it will just be one more plastic (or cardboard) piece of clutter after a few years.

Holy sh|t, I'm getting this. You got me there Nintendo.

$100 and then you have to pay for a subscription to use it?
You can't even buy the games...

... words are failing me...

(I was excited there for a second actually.)

I was hoping for a new rail-less nes pad and snes pad restock. 😭

Nintendo really must be smoking crack charging that much for this.🤣

But not on the 3DS, which had 3D built in...

Honestly, the cardboard model isn't a bad way to go - it will actually be more comfrtable to play with it as opposed to the old-school style - trust me! I do wish it had a head strap thought.

@TrogdorTheBurninator you get to play GameCube, N64, GBA and Genesis games with the expansion pass which may be of some interest to players

So it'll be completely useless when Switch Online goes down? You NEED the accessory AND have to pay a yearly subscription just to use it?

I wish you didn't require the additional accessory to play. I don't mind playing a completely red-game as long as I can enjoy for what it is (I just wanna play Wario Land), even without the 3D effects.

@Axecon I’m not interested in buying or playing using either accessory so I agree with you. I will enjoy playing them on TV if they are compatible, and I don’t mind them not being in 3D

Got my pre order in.
Can’t wait

@Bass_X0
No, you are not going to be able to play any of those on that $100 adapter.

@RainbowGazelle it will be another 15 years before the Switch servers go down and that’s if you can’t continue to subscribe to NSO on the next console.

Never had the chance to play any Virtual Boy games or try the original hardware, so I'll be getting this. However, slightly disappointing it doesn't include a replica of the original controller for the price, which is just for a plastic shell that isolates two images being directed into each eye on a separate screen, so no electronics necessary.

Imagine a scenario where you get a cartridge with the entire VB library and your choice of the hunk of plastic or hunk of cardboard for these prices. It would really be a novelty release, but the reality is you have to be an NSO sub to have the privilege to order one of these accessories and play these games with an active subscription. WILD.

@Don the controllers at least still work with other Switch and Switch 2 games. I guess this could work with Labo Vr stuff on paper at least?

I’d love to play these games and this was Nintendo’s chance to bring them to a wider audience. But no, they decided to lock them behind expensive hardware that’s not portable and will be in a landfill whenever Nintendo discontinues Switch Online in the future. Hard pass for me.

Damn are the preorders down already? I’m on the store and it just shows a release date for the button?

Most left-field announcement for me lol. I'd love to try some of these games, but not if the VB accessory is required.

The replica model doesn't include a controller, so you are basically paying $100 for a piece of plastic. At that point just pay $25 for a piece of cardboard. I'm excited to get a chance to play these games at all, but I think the Homebrew Virtual Boy emulator on 3DS is probably the way to go.

@norwichred I just ordered it in the Netherlands.. it is just because we watch the us version..

@KayFiOS yeah you could at it that way I guess, but since it also changes the way you play... and since I can't afford a real one...

@RainbowGazelle mmhmm exactly lol

Wow. They could've NOT required a ridiculous addon, but then they couldn't have milked more money.

Disgusting. Nintendo really is setting itself up for a Microsoft-esque fall from grace.

Never played the Virtual Boy back in the day. None of my friends had the darn thing. Wouldn’t mind trying it out but not when the accessory is needed.

Wait, so CAN we play it 2d without the accessory? It will still be an option for us with NSO expansion pack? Or, no?
Otherwise...feels like this could have been some kind of Nintendo Mini console thing.

It's funny to think about how we were speculating on ways Nintendo could possibly get the DS to run in NSO, while over at Nintendo, they clearly had entirely different ideas in mind.

Is this available for anyone else at this point? The pre-order page just says "Releases 02/17/2026" with a grayed out button. Not sure if the pre-orders are already done, or if it's bugging for me.

I’m totally excited for this , it’s a very Nintendo thing to do am I surprised? Yeah absolutely this never seemed like a likely product range . The only thing that might stop me buying the full accessory is if it’s too expensive, I guess the cardboard version is the budget option but I really want the full experience! Well done Nintendo! About time they did something random like this

Nintendo, you absolute maniacs.

@Dramlin The news blurb on Nintendo's website says the preorders will be available "at a later date" and gives you a link to be notified when they become available.

…I’m good. Thanks anyways

Didn’t see it was already up for pre order , and snatched !! I was thinking it might be something stupid like £100+ so I’m pleasantly surprised it’s under £70

@Pak-Man Thank you! That was the issue.

It probably says more about me than I’d wish, but the price of that unit didn’t stop me instantly pre-ordering it. The price of the Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 though… woof. And I love those games.

Got my pre-order in just now.

I'm fairly sure this is the dumbest thing i have ever bought and I don't care!

The VB was actually a really cool system, or rather idea, but the hardware of the time couldn't realise the vision. The best way to experience it is via a Meta Quest headset. However, I think that this is really cool. A crazy peripheral.

This is hilarious and also I'm preordering the full one next pay

They better offer the Japanese games, the horror game, or others as well. No excuses. Honestly the best thing in the direct but if they don't handle it well worst thing Nintendo hasn't achieved its 20 games come on its a small library. No excuses.

I like the accessory, it is a 3D system anyone complaining is an idiot and forgets what a virtual boy's purpose was. Otherwise if you want a Wario Land VB play Mutant Muds or something else.

Play another 3D ship game or something wireframe for Red Alarm.

Good luck woth Jack Bros. Human beings are so dumba in go I want my comfort then why should we do ANYTHING at all. Seriously it's a 3D system, what do you expect it to do to replication the 3D mirror flipping to Switch or unofficially 3DS with 3D mode.

Stop complaining and get off your regularly scheduled TV remote mentality of controllers you lazy idiots.

Offer region app options or localisation but they would go oh it's not popular enough for that to out extra work into to offer a translation patch, then why emulate them if it hasn't got enough of an audience.

Sure not all these games are return worthy, but some are so this is great to see.

@YANDMAN 32bit hardware before GBA and GBA had light 3D with no intention of 3D but 3rd parties took on the challenge themselves, yeah but the red was also a choice too. The company who pitched it probably had a higher budget idea.

Whether we got more colours, or blue instead of red LEDs either. Red was cheap and understandable.

Its a n interesting system for sure, fair potential. Some of realised like thr Japanese horror games or Teleroboxer or others. Many not so.

If Nintendo opened it up to not just emulation for them of these games but also third party development we could see some.great here. Like Playdate levels of creativity.

Also Genesis VR/Jaguar VR were impressive for the time too. Regardless of being cancelled.

Still 3D VB, 3D Gamecube Luigis Mansion, 3D GBA cancelled to go for 3DS later. Besides Famciom or Master System 3D or I think some other systems.

It is 3D not VR so it maybe had a chance portable or not to do 3D then a console.

@YANDMAN The VB hardware is actually pretty nice too, from an internals standpoint - particularly the audio was very good and it had a full 32 bit processor. It just had to be so bulky, and positioning it as a portable when it really wasn't made it less appealing. There are a couple of really great games on it that show the potential though. It was never going to work with that form-factor/price point though.

If there is no way to play these as 2d options without an extra device, to a service I pay for yearly....just out of their minds completely.

Well Nintendo finally brought back stereoscopic 3D, just not in the way anyone predicted.

Nintendo also brought back Labo for the cardboard Virtual Boy headset 😄

In general this is one of the crazier announcements Nintendo announcements, all hail the Virtual Boy indeed.

I love that they’re doing this, I’ve just got my preorder in. I’ve actually got a VB but I don’t have all the games and I’d expect the 120Hz screen could reduce eye strain by being less flickery (unless Nintendo deliberately try to mimic it! 😅).

Why didn't they make a headset?!?!

Prepare for people to finally see the VB was a good system... You know if they would have sold a real headset... Wtf!!!

Yay's who is ready to burn their retinas?

Wait...so it's only available for expansion pack subscribers? Not base tier? And you have to buy an extra physical accessory to play the games? And then if you stop paying for the subscription, your physical accessory becomes a useless piece of plastic? Who thought this was a good idea?

The games should be bundled with the physical accessory. Nintendo's greed knows no bounds.

@LEGEND_MARIOID
Gotta give Nintendo major props for having the ba** to do this.
Wario Land VB is absolutely worth checking out in stereoscopic 3D for Virtual Boy. It's the system seller, and easily one of the greatest entries in the franchise. I'll never forget experiencing that opening cutscene in 3D. It was mighty impressive back in the 90's and I'm sure still holds up wonderfully today, including the boss battles.

Then there's Telero Boxer, Mario Clash and maybe Jack Bros. A small library of mostly forgettable games. But I'd buy the NS2 Virtual Boy just to fully experience Wario Land VB alone.

@electrolite77
Wario Land VB was fantastic! It's THE reason to get a Virtual Boy. I'm telling you, the 3D opening cut scene and Boss battles are still super impressive to this day, IF you can get past the Black & red graphics.

Totally unexpected! I hope others develop games for this.

14/22 commercially released games is actually more than I thought I would make it, if those are confirmed to be included.

I can only imagine Nester's Funky Bowling and Panic Bomber are likely to make it out of the missing games.

That list includes two of the wallet-destructing "Elite Four" rare Japanese games.
Virtual Lab, the third one, is arguable as the worst game on the console, for that it was the one most unfinished before they released it. The box itself is a thing of amazing awfulness.

@Uncle_Franklin without the 3d they feel like monochrome snes games… i emulated them in the miyoo before, but since red viper i get those games….and that expensive thing will make it feel more real… (luckily in europe it is cheaper than us..)

It is superflouus in away… but I still habe a 3ds to play my ds collection.. even repaired it this march… so this gives me an actual new experience in nso…

Woohoo! Best news of the Direct.

Nintendo is finally re-releasing the Virtual Boy library and letting new generations experience it for themselves, instead relying of relying on 3rd party exaggeration about the console experience (seriously, if you had it adjusted properly you shouldn’t get eye strain, but anyway….).

Between this and the VB merch at the Nintendo Museum, it seems that Nintendo are willing to include this in their history now.

I don't care if I'm the only one in the world excited about this; this is something I'm getting day one, hell one of the best things they showed today by a long shot. I'm honestly tired of the VB's library not having more access, and anyone with an actual system knows how problematic the hardware is to keep working and well maintained. Bring it on. My only complaint is we're not also getting that amazing controller, which despite it being tied to such a failure of a console, is one of the best ever to be made.

Excited when I saw it, but then I remembered that while the NES, SNES and other controllers will continue working for some games even if the NSO service shuts down, this admittedly beautiful piece of plastic will be obsolete some day, and it's 80 euro plus shipping.

They should've emulated the console on 3DS, which had built-in stereoscopic 3D, so I'll stick with the alternative way to play these games there.

@romanista

monochrome SNES sounds alright to me.

The funniest thing about this is that the video shows these games work fine in 2D and there’s no way for them to get around this while they tell us their future dust collectors are required anyway.

I can finally play VB Wario Laaaaaaaaaaand!

I’m gonna buy it aren’t I…

@Max_the_German Yes it does look like it, but I haven't seen it confirmed yet. So I think it should, but we don't know.

I just checked to see how much it would cost to sign up for a month or a few and apparently there is only a 1 year $50 option. I'm not paying $50 to try out some VR games. They really need like $19.99 for 3 months of something like that to jet people try stuff out. $20/m would be $80/yr so most people would just pay the $50 but I'd pay $20 to try it out, we don't game online.

https://www.nintendo.com/us/online/compare-memberships/

Can you actually pre-order this? I went on uk site, and doesn’t actually let me pre-order
Edit: Working now. Happy Days, even if it only gets used briefly, still looks ok to put on the shelf

It’s funny that even 30 years later on a powerful system like the Switch 2, the screen still won’t be as razor sharp as the image was on an actual Virtual Boy.

And for the record, playing Virtual Boy games doesn’t cause headaches or eye strain, in the same way that Taco Bell doesn’t actually cause diarrhea. Unless you’re just weak, I guess.

@electrolite77 We pay a subscription fee which includes free classic games. These games are not free. They come behind another paywall. They could easily put the 2D versions up for subscribers who don't want to buy into this peripheral madness that's going on.

Wow... just wow... AU$130!!! That's even worse than I'd anticipated!

Charge an extra $20 and throw in the games on a cart FFS. This is absolutely obscene. How many people are actually going to buy this?!

A Virtual Boy replica plus the ability to own the games for posterity would have been a no-brainer, but this?! What a crying shame.

I'm down for the Virtual Boy library being dropped on the online service, but the add on seems a bit unnecessary.

@Scposteel the way the games work I believe is that it shows two different images side by side that when viewed through the headset merges to become one image to give the illusion of depth

@Boopero you also have to buy controllers to play N64 and GameCube games as the regular joycon does not have enough buttons

Are they on drugs?!

Boy, if I ever buy this, I definitely won’t mention that fact on this sight, lol.

@norwichred Oh! You’re right, didn’t notice. The internet will go nuts over this one too, I think…, thanks for telling me! (Wouldn’t buy it anyway, but still 😂)

@electrolite77 You might be right

No Nester? No dice

As someone who had the dubious honour of playing a Virtual Boy back in the couple of months it was available in the 90s, I’m not really interested (aside from as a curio). I have to ask though; why on earth wasn’t this done on the 3DS 10 years ago? It would have been perfect and wouldn’t have needed any expensive accessories.

@electrolite77 so we’re pro pirating at some point then? Awesome.

so we buy this toy ..no include the game ? and only avaible for Nintendo Online wtf

I mean if this was its own thing it would be a cool novelty, but the fact that its tied to NSO doesn't make me want to buy it.

You wanted Virtual Boy? You got Virtual Boy. The whole set. Have fun.

P.S. No Virtual Lab? No buys.

That shot of him appearing from behind the goggles was my personal highlight of the direct. 10/10

Love it. Very unique experience

@Moroboshi876 will it though, I lots of options for things like Tetris effect..

People into Nintendo (I hate the word fan, I'm not a fan of a company), have been asking for recognizing the Virtual Boy, and were surprised that it finally was recognized by an emulator in the Nintendo Museum, thinking Nintendo would be ashamed (even though it had been WarioWare for years)

Nintendo is a Japanese company, a country were personal shame is a difficult concept. People even thought Gunpei Yokoi (the creator of the Vb, and far more) was fired because of this and even speculate about his death. But now we know better and let's try not to put human-labels on companies too much...

And since they had that emulator, it's not weird that they thought what to do with it. The virtual boy is now 30 years old, the switch 2 screen good enough for the illusion, NSO is an accepted thing. I didn't expected it all, but in hindsight it seems not that weird.

But of course It is a niche product, so standard economics to get your investment make out expensive (and the n64 controllers are 50 as well, remember).. And they made a cheap one too... (not sure if that will sell though, who is the target group)

Tying it to NSO, that feels a bit stingy, but fro the company point a view it fits in having NSO as a complete offer... And since it is so niche, the expansion pack is the place...(not saying I wouldn't have preferred just a virtual boy cart).. And even I hate to admit it, as a nintendo player, I probably will be subscriber for ever, and then know it, and they make the transaction costs of leaving even higher like this...

After experiencing them on my modded 3ds, I really wanted to have a virtual boy, but the 400 euro cost are just too high for occasional play, so I can applaud Nintendo for opening this experience for us all, even though I loathe the price 'upgrade'. nintendo puts on everything in 2025... (although don't forget they didn't make the tariffs... 70 euros v 100 dollars..).. And Nintendo surprises us guys, what was the last time that happened..

@SalvorHardin have you ever tried VB in 3d? the experience is completely different and rather unique... completely was blown away when playing them on red viper..

I

I know I got a pair of Real3D movie theatre glasses somewhere. I’m willing to bet that’s all this VB recreation is doing. All I’d need then is a stand like the HORI and play at night or a dark room for the full effect.

I was possibly considering this, but for the price and the fact that it doesn't even come with the VB controller makes it an unlikely one for me. It does however encourage me to emulate on my 3DS finally.

Only 22 games were released and yet two of them are Tetris variants and two are bowling.

Really excited about this. Should have been done from r the 3DS but wasn't, but glad they didn't miss the boat twice. Personally I love the fact that they are releasing a replica headset to be able to simulate the whole experience.

Pre-order placed.

Don't quite know how this came to be, but I've pre-ordered the full size accessory. Never owned a Virtual Boy. Never even considered picking one up. Yet here I am.

I think if you bought this assessory, you should have access to the games at no extra cost. Or just give assess to the games without the assessory w/ the subscription

@SuntannedDuck2 The Genesis V.R was literally unplayable due to jerky framerate, but looked seriously cool. I know I would have been an instant buyer.