Nintendo Finally Acknowledges the Virtual Boy After 30 Years
▼ Summary
– Nintendo is re-releasing Virtual Boy games for the first time ever in February 2026 for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members.
– Players must purchase a $100 Virtual Boy-shaped Switch dock or a $25 cardboard holder to access and play these games.
– The games will be displayed in a split-screen mode through special lenses to replicate the original Virtual Boy’s stereoscopic red display.
– The plastic dock may have limited availability as a collectible, while the cardboard version is designed for wider distribution.
– Joy-Con or Joy-Con 2 controllers are required to play, with no replica of the original Virtual Boy controller being provided.
For three long decades, Nintendo’s Virtual Boy remained the forgotten child in the company’s celebrated lineup of retro hardware. That changes in February 2026, when Nintendo will officially re-release Virtual Boy titles for the first time ever, but only for those willing to invest in a special accessory designed to mimic the original hardware’s unique viewing experience.
Subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack in the US and Canada will gain access to a selection of Virtual Boy games starting February 17, 2026. To play them, users must purchase either a $100 plastic dock shaped like the original Virtual Boy or a more affordable $25 cardboard alternative. The Switch or Switch 2 console slides into the dock, which uses a split-screen display and special lenses to recreate the system’s iconic red-and-black stereoscopic visuals.
Nintendo has made it clear that this dedicated accessory is mandatory, the games cannot be played on a standard flat screen without it. While the premium plastic dock may see limited availability due to its collectible nature, the cardboard version aims for broader accessibility. Both options require the use of Joy-Con or Joy-Con 2 controllers; Nintendo has confirmed it will not reproduce the Virtual Boy’s distinctive dual D-pad controller.
This move marks a significant shift for Nintendo, which had largely sidestepped the Virtual Boy in its many retrospectives and re-releases over the years. Now, a new generation of players, and nostalgic fans, will finally get a taste of one of gaming’s most unusual and often overlooked experiments.
(Source: Ars Technica)
