Nintendo has officially announced the long-anticipated addition of the Virtual Boy library to its Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service, launching next month.
This marks the first time games from Nintendo’s innovative yet short-lived 1995 hardware will become widely accessible on modern platforms.
The move is part of Nintendo’s ongoing campaign to expand its classic game offerings on the Switch, regularly adding new titles and features to enrich the online experience for subscribers. According to the official statement from Nintendo, users can look forward to a variety of quality-of-life upgrades when playing Virtual Boy classics on the Switch.
In addition to core enhancements such as save states, instant rewind, and customizable control schemes—now standard for many Nintendo Switch Online retro releases—the company is introducing a groundbreaking display feature.
For the first time, players will be able to alter the Virtual Boy’s traditional monochrome red-on-black visuals by swapping between multiple pre-set color palettes, easing the strain on players’ eyes and providing a fresh take on these retro titles. Nintendo’s announcement emphasized, "Players will have the ability to change the Virtual Boy’s display color to one of several new options designed to make gameplay more comfortable and visually appealing." However, Nintendo clarified that this new colorization feature will not be available at the initial launch of the Virtual Boy library for Switch Online.
Instead, the color palette options are slated for release “later this year.” Until this feature goes live, titles will remain limited to their iconic red-tinted display.
Once implemented, the update will allow users to digitally “remove the lens cover,” simulating enhanced color modes and making true to life a long-requested improvement for Virtual Boy emulation. The Virtual Boy catalog’s return via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack not only preserves a unique chapter in the company’s hardware history but also showcases Nintendo’s commitment to accessibility and player comfort.
With fan favorites such as "Mario’s Tennis" and "Wario Land" expected to debut, these enhancements are poised to re-introduce a new generation of Switch users to a lineup of games that originally saw a limited run in the mid-1990s. The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack continues to be a central hub for classic gaming on the Switch, giving subscribers access to a diverse library spanning the NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and now Virtual Boy.
More details and release dates for specific Virtual Boy games and additional features are expected in upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations and official eShop updates.
For now, fans can look forward to playing these rare titles with modern comforts—and more visual options—by the end of the year.
This marks the first time games from Nintendo’s innovative yet short-lived 1995 hardware will become widely accessible on modern platforms.
The move is part of Nintendo’s ongoing campaign to expand its classic game offerings on the Switch, regularly adding new titles and features to enrich the online experience for subscribers. According to the official statement from Nintendo, users can look forward to a variety of quality-of-life upgrades when playing Virtual Boy classics on the Switch.
In addition to core enhancements such as save states, instant rewind, and customizable control schemes—now standard for many Nintendo Switch Online retro releases—the company is introducing a groundbreaking display feature.
For the first time, players will be able to alter the Virtual Boy’s traditional monochrome red-on-black visuals by swapping between multiple pre-set color palettes, easing the strain on players’ eyes and providing a fresh take on these retro titles. Nintendo’s announcement emphasized, "Players will have the ability to change the Virtual Boy’s display color to one of several new options designed to make gameplay more comfortable and visually appealing." However, Nintendo clarified that this new colorization feature will not be available at the initial launch of the Virtual Boy library for Switch Online.
Instead, the color palette options are slated for release “later this year.” Until this feature goes live, titles will remain limited to their iconic red-tinted display.
Once implemented, the update will allow users to digitally “remove the lens cover,” simulating enhanced color modes and making true to life a long-requested improvement for Virtual Boy emulation. The Virtual Boy catalog’s return via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack not only preserves a unique chapter in the company’s hardware history but also showcases Nintendo’s commitment to accessibility and player comfort.
With fan favorites such as "Mario’s Tennis" and "Wario Land" expected to debut, these enhancements are poised to re-introduce a new generation of Switch users to a lineup of games that originally saw a limited run in the mid-1990s. The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack continues to be a central hub for classic gaming on the Switch, giving subscribers access to a diverse library spanning the NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and now Virtual Boy.
More details and release dates for specific Virtual Boy games and additional features are expected in upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations and official eShop updates.
For now, fans can look forward to playing these rare titles with modern comforts—and more visual options—by the end of the year.
