Nintendo has announced that the Virtual Console will not be coming to the Nintendo Switch. This follows the news about the pricing and features of the Nintendo Switch online subscription service. While this will include a catalogue of NES games, Nintendo has confirmed that the Virtual Console will not be making a comeback.
A Nintendo spokesperson told Kotaku via email that there are no plans at the moment to bring classic games together under the title of Virtual Console in the same way Nintendo has done on previous systems.
While this doesn’t mean that we won’t see classic games on the Switch, it does mean that we won’t see the Virtual Console brand.
It could be that NES and other classic games only make an appearance via the Nintendo Switch subscription service. This acts as a sort of Netflix for games and will slowly cycle through Nintendo’s catalogue of classic games.
Virtual Console on past systems
Previous Nintendo consoles like the 3DS, Wii and Wii U, all had their own Virtual Consoles within their respective shops that included titles from older systems like the NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64. Users could buy and download these games to play on their consoles with a few extras including things like save states.
While this wasn’t always a perfect way of accessing older games and could make it difficult to find which system specific games were available on - looking at you “Final Fantasy VI.” The Virtual Console was a great way to introduce new people to classic Nintendo games or replay some of your favourite titles from older consoles.
Nintendo Switch Online
However, Nintendo has said that while they won’t use the Virtual Console that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any classic titles on the Nintendo Switch. The spokesperson who spoke to Kotaku also stated that there are other ways that classic games can be made available on the Nintendo Switch. This could be through the Nintendo eShop or Nintendo Switch Online (the subscription service).
The Nintendo Switch Online subscription service is adding 20 games for players to enjoy when it launches in September. These will include classics like “The Legend of Zelda,” “Mario Bros.,” “Balloon Fight,” “Donkey Kong,” and many others. Each of these will come with a new online multiplayer mode.
While it looks like the Virtual Console might have died, it doesn’t look like there will be any shortage of classic games available on the Nintendo Switch.
When you combine this with the swathes of new releases coming to the Switch throughout 2018, then you will have plenty to play on your hybrid console. Whether you are looking forward to the new “Smash Bros.” game or “Bayonetta 3” you are going to have lots of excellent games to enjoy.
