Nintendo today held its main Nintendo Direct showcase, where it revealed more information about upcoming Switch and Switch 2 games. The show’s revelations include a release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the announcement of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to honor Super Mario Bros.’ 40th anniversary, and the reveal of a new Fire Emblem title called Fortune’s Weave.
However, the biggest surprise was probably the return of the Virtual Boy, the infamously niche headset console Nintendo created in 1995. The original headset was derided at launch for offering a lackluster gaming experience and being very uncomfortable to use. As analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed out on X, Nintendo doesn’t even count the Virtual Boy among its consoles on its sales information website.
That being said, the ill-fated red-and-black headset has accrued something of a fond following in the 40 years since it launched, and now Nintendo is bringing it back … sort of. Starting on February 17, the Virtual Boy — Nintendo Classics launches for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members on both Switch and Switch 2. This relaunched Virtual Boy acts as a dock for the Switch’s screen, allowing players to enjoy the original console’s games.
This new Virtual Boy is an accessory, rather than a dedicated console. Nintendo also confirmed that a cardboard version of the accessory is in the works as well. Nintendo plans to launch 14 Virtual Boy titles over time to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.