Nintendo Switch Online: Trademark Renewals Spark Interest in Classic Game Availability

Nintendo has recently submitted renewals for several classic game trademarks, igniting discussion among fans and industry observers about what these filings might signal for the future of Nintendo Switch Online.

The titles in question—Mach Rider, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Metroid: Zero Mission, and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!—represent a diverse cross-section of Nintendo's celebrated catalog, each with its own unique place in the company’s history.

The recent trademark activity, uncovered via Japan’s official patent publication site and shared through dedicated gaming communities on platforms like Reddit, highlights Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to managing its vast intellectual property library.

Notably, all four titles are currently only accessible digitally through legacy platforms: the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.

Unless players have access to either original hardware or these older digital storefronts, these games are not available for purchase or official play on modern Nintendo consoles.

Renewals of classic Nintendo properties are a routine aspect of the company’s business operations.

While such filings are not direct confirmations of future game releases, they allow Nintendo to retain legal control and flexibility over its intellectual assets.

Speaking with industry precision, maintaining trademarks is a core aspect of any major publisher’s long-term strategy.

In the current landscape, Nintendo Switch Online has broadened its retro gaming library dramatically, introducing titles from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and even Sega Genesis catalogs to its subscription-based platform.

Of the renewed games, Mach Rider (originally for NES) and Donkey Kong Country 3 (for SNES) align with libraries already available on Nintendo Switch Online.

Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and Metroid: Zero Mission—both fan-favorite Game Boy Advance titles—remain absent from the service, despite persistent community interest and rumors around potential GBA game integrations.

When pressed for comment, a Nintendo spokesperson indicated that trademark renewals are standard procedure and should not necessarily be taken as an indicator of upcoming releases.

In a carefully worded statement, the company reiterated: “Nintendo regularly renews trademarks for a variety of classic games, as part of our ongoing efforts to preserve and protect our intellectual property.” Nintendo fans, nevertheless, remain hopeful that these measures may one day translate to new ways to play beloved classics on modern hardware such as the Nintendo Switch.

For now, the trademark filings reinforce how Nintendo stays attentive to its rich history—even when there are no immediate plans to re-release a particular game.

As of March 2022, the titles mentioned are still confined to the aging Wii U and 3DS eShop storefronts, both of which have a winding-down pathway as Nintendo continues to shift focus toward the Switch and its ecosystem.

Until official announcements are made, enthusiasts should temper expectations, recognizing that trademark activity is primarily procedural.

Still, the renewed attention offers a welcome reminder of the diverse legacy Nintendo continues to steward as the gaming landscape evolves.

Zelda Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Metroid Donkey Kong Country Nintendo Nintendo Switch Online The Legend of Zelda Legend of Zelda Switch Online Switch Minish Donkey Kong Country 3 Mach Rider The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Metroid: Zero Mission Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Wii U 3DS Virtual Console