In a wild and unexpected move, Nintendo announced it’s bringing back the Virtual Boy for the Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The company will release a physical replica of the notorious 1990s tabletop system, allowing players to slot in their Switch or Switch 2 to experience classic Virtual Boy games.
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The accessory will be available in two versions: a $100 plastic model and a more affordable $25 cardboard version. Nintendo says both accessories will be sold exclusively in the U.S. and Canada.
To play the games, you’ll need one of the new accessories. The titles will start arriving on the Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on February 17. A total of 14 stereoscopic 3D Virtual Boy games are planned for the service, including fan favourites like Mario’s Tennis, Galactic Pinball, Teleroboxer, and Space Invaders.
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This means a majority of the Virtual Boy’s original 22-game library will be available to a new generation of players. The original Virtual Boy was a commercial failure, with production and game development ending just one year after its 1995 release. It remains to be seen if the headaches and eye strain that plagued the original device will be a problem for the new version.
