Nintendo Should Bring Back the Virtual Console

Nintendo’s Subscription Model Under Fire

Nintendo stands alone in making users subscribe to access classic games. In the ever-evolving gaming landscape, this needs to change. As the gaming world anticipates the release of Switch 2, the hope is for a shift in Nintendo’s current approach.

Back in 2018, the launch of Switch Online seemed quite reasonable. After all, PlayStation and Xbox charge for online multiplayer. But Nintendo offered no native voice chat, sticking to its quirky ways. They sweetened the deal by adding a library of NES games. For just $20 a year, many enjoyed revisiting these classics.

The Costly Expansion

However, the service’s evolution brought higher costs. In 2019, SNES games joined the roster. By 2021, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis titles were part of a pricier Expansion Pack, hiking fees to $50 annually. Recent additions include Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. This tiered library offers over 200 games from three generations.

Yet, renting these classics in 2025 feels absurd. What was once a delightful nostalgia trip now seems like a money pit. Fans grow tired of paying $50 yearly just to introduce their children to games like Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A Look Back at Virtual Console

Nintendo’s online features often lag behind competitors. Yet, they once pioneered letting players download old games on modern consoles. Back in 2006, the Wii’s Virtual Console offered old NES games for digital purchase. Titles like Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. became available, capturing gamers’ hearts.

Unfortunately, Nintendo soon faltered. With each console, gamers had to repurchase these classics. The Virtual Console on Wii was disconnected from its successors, like the 3DS and Wii U. This became a running joke, highlighting Nintendo’s digital shortcomings.

The Frustration with Current Strategies

The drawbacks of this system were clear. Switch Online’s launch brought hope with a unified library, eliminating multiple buys of titles like Excitebike. Surprisingly, the Switch era should’ve extended the Virtual Console. Nintendo confirmed that Switch 2 will be backwards-compatible. Older downloads, like Mario Kart 64, could finally be portable across devices.

Yet Nintendo clings to outdated tactics. They still expect gamers to pay repeated rental fees without ownership options. Game Pass might challenge Xbox’s traditional buying value, but it still allows purchases. Once a leader in digital preservation, Nintendo feels stuck in its old ways.

What’s Next for Switch 2?

The future could bring more frustration if Virtual Console doesn’t return for Switch 2. Talks suggest a $100 annual WaveBird Pack adding GameCube classics, untouched by remakes. Many will pay, wrapped in nostalgia. But it shouldn’t have to be this way.

Capcom and Konami have successfully sold game anthologies on the Switch. Some partnered with Digital Eclipse, adding features like auto-play and developer notes. Others, like Square Enix, released HD collections of hits like Mana and Final Fantasy.

Will Nintendo Evolve?

Switch Online doesn’t prevent Nintendo from selling these games. Former Kotaku editor Chris Kohler noted in 2018 that Nintendo often neglects obvious moves. When GoldenEye 007 returned in 2023, Xbox owners got it free with Rare Replay. On Switch, it was stuck behind subscriptions.

Switch 2, arriving later this year, may reveal whether Nintendo’s strategies have matured. Change is crucial as the gaming community watches and waits, eager for positive evolution.