All articles tagged with #switch online
Nintendo marks 30 years of Pokémon with Switch releases of FireRed and LeafGreen, including Sevii islands, local wireless trading, and language-specific versions (English, French, Spanish) priced at $19.99 each; Switch Online members gain access to updated Pokémon music via Nintendo Music, with language/version and regional availability notes.
Nintendo brings back the Virtual Boy via the Switch with the Nintendo Classics retro lineup, but you must buy a $100 plastic headset (or a $25 cardboard version) and maintain a Switch Online subscription to access seven launch titles. The games run in portable mode without the accessory, but the goggles are essential for a playable (and legible) experience. It’s an uncomfortable, eyestrain-prone setup that’s oddly compelling for die‑hard fans, yet costly and limited in scope—more a boutique nostalgia item than a practical revival.
Nintendo Life reports four weekly waves of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition icons returning for Switch Online, with each icon costing 10 Platinum Points (and 5 for background/border); a Switch 2 Edition upgrade is available (£4.19/$4.99) alongside a full Switch 2 Edition (£54.99/$64.99) and a physical release arriving in April. The 4K/60fps (dock) and 1080p/60fps (handheld) upgrade accompanies the re-release, and icons refresh weekly, remaining live until 3/19 at 6pm PT. First wave is live now.
Nintendo Switch Online’s Virtual Boy library can be played using Labo VR goggles (Switch 1 fits, Switch 2 needs tweaks), but TV play is not supported. You can view the dual images without peripherals, though the screens are tiny; IPD and image size can be adjusted, with hue options promised later. Seven VB games are available as of Feb 17, 2026, led by Wario Land, and a hardware review is forthcoming.
Nintendo will launch 'Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics' on February 17 for Nintendo Switch Online, letting players access titles like 3-D Tetris and Virtual Boy Wario Land. At launch it offers two hardware options: a $99.99 one-to-one recreation of the original Virtual Boy, and a $24.99 cardboard Labo VR headset, with a third option to play the pack on Labo VR headsets. Nintendo notes the Labo compatibility is not heavily promoted since it doesn’t actively sell Labo VR kits. A preview showed the $99.99 replica works using a Pro controller, and Nintendo has teased more Virtual Boy content, including the unreleased 'Zero Racer' arriving in 2026.
A Nintendo Life report suggests the Labo VR cardboard headset could be compatible with Virtual Boy games on Nintendo Switch Online, based on a GamesBeat claim from a Nintendo Treehouse staffer; Nintendo has not officially confirmed it yet. The Virtual Boy app is slated to launch on Feb 17, 2026 alongside a cheaper Virtual Boy shell, and Labo VR compatibility would require using the original Switch (Switch 2 likely won’t fit in the headset).
Nintendo Life’s Ollie Reynolds shares five takeaways from a hands-on with the Virtual Boy on Nintendo Switch Online ahead of its February 17, 2026 launch: the hardware feels sturdy and visually striking, but there’s no official Virtual Boy controller which hurts the full experience; you can tweak the screen and viewing angle for better focus, and you’ll want a proper play setup (desk height, posture) to enjoy it; some launch titles like Virtual Boy Wario Land and Red Alarm look great, while Zero Racers and D‑Hopper aren’t playable at launch; a cardboard variant is also available, and the headset is priced at £66.99 / $99.99.
Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack adds a Virtual Boy Classics roster (launching Feb 17) with titles like Teleroboxer, Galactic Pinball, Virtual Boy Wario Land and more, plus two unreleased games Zero Racers and D-Hopper. Access requires a Switch system, a Switch Online + Expansion Pack, and either the Virtual Boy replica or the cheaper cardboard accessory to recreate the original 3D effects; further titles are teased and there are no 2D releases planned.
A Walmart page with Nintendo Switch Online artwork hints that Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 are headed to Switch Online on Switch 2, implying more GameCube titles could join NSO and fueling debate about future remasters.
Nintendo has revealed the launch lineup for Switch Online's Virtual Boy library arriving on Feb 17, featuring seven games at launch (including Galactic Pinball, Teleroboxer, Red Alarm, Virtual Boy Wario Land 3-D, TETRIS Golf, and The Mansion of Innsmouth) with more titles teased for the future, such as Mario's Tennis, Jack Bros., and two unreleased games Zero Racers and Dragon Hopper. Players will need the Virtual Boy accessory (standard or cardboard) to play, and the service will add features like rewind, save states, and control remapping, with color-screen options coming later in the year.
A Walmart ad graphic hints that Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2 could be added to Nintendo Switch Online on the Switch 2, joining other GameCube titles; there’s no official confirmation yet and the listing may simply be promotional mockups.
A Walmart promo for Nintendo Switch Online's 'Nintendo Classics' reportedly lists Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2 as GameCube titles not yet announced for the service, reviving rumors of more GameCube games joining Switch Online, though it could be a listings error.
Nintendo's first Switch Online game trial of 2026 is exclusive to Switch 2 in North America, offering Madden NFL 26 with full-game access from now through January 21, 2026. Non-subscribers can start with a free 7-day online trial; purchasing the game during the trial unlocks a 60% discount (to $27.99 USD / $35.99 CAD) through January 25, 2026. Save data carries over and players can earn 100 My Nintendo Points by playing. This marks the first trial exclusive to Switch 2, with Madden NFL 26 originally launching on Switch 2 last August.
The free Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update arrived early, adding quality-of-life improvements (more storage, bulk crafting, an island cleanup service), a new hotel on the island, and Switch Online perks like NES game access. The paid Switch 2 upgrade (with 4K, 12-player online, and other features) remains slated for January 15.
Nintendo Switch Online is offering a limited-time opportunity until January 11, 2026, for subscribers to acquire and revisit exclusive icons from various games in 2025, with each icon costing 10 Platinum Points and themed sets including titles like Super Mario Galaxy, F-Zero 99, and Kirby. The offer encourages fans to collect these designs before they disappear.