Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online, fans have been begging for support of more of Nintendo's sytems. With the N64 and Sega Genesis headed to Nintendo Switch Online, it's become clear just how Game Boy and GBA titles could come to the system.
It was announced at the latest Nintendo Direct that Nintendo Switch Online was getting Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. In previous Nintendo hardware generations, these titles were available for purchase through the Virtual Console on the Nintendo eShop. The Wii U featured the greatest of these libraries, as Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and even Nintendo DS games could all be bought through its Virtual Console. With the Nintendo Switch however, Nintendo locked the accessibility of its retro games behind Nintendo Switch Online, leading many to question if they would ever play Game Boy games on their Switch. Now, it seems more possible than ever.
The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack
For the record, the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games coming to Nintendo Switch Online are not included in the original subscription price—they are only accessible through an Expansion Pack. Nintendo failed to detail how much this extended service would cost, just that it would be an additional charge or tier above the base subscription model. The Expansion Pack gives users all of the benefits of the traditional Nintendo Switch Online, but adds access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis libraries.
This is not the first time though, that Nintendo has added a new platform's worth of games to Nintendo Switch Online. In 2019, Nintendo Switch Online received SNES games, which practically doubled the service's quaint library of games, which then were only NES titles. Most notably is that the SNES games were added at no additional cost to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, nor any modifications made to its subscription prices. However, that is changing with the latest additions.
Nintendo Switch Online Should Receive a Game Boy, GBA Expansion Pack
Nintendo Switch Online's future is abunduntly clear following a big announcement at the Nintendo Direct. At some point down the road, there will likely be a Game Boy, GBA Expansion Pack that users can buy that will give them access to a select library of those handhelds' games. It will probably be the same price if not more than what Nintendo will be asking for the current Expansion Pack. If fans are lucky, they will be able to interchange subscriptions, not having to buy both when they really only want to access one.
Granted, this is not an inherently bad system. Buying Game Boy and GBA titles on the Wii U eShop could quickly become pretty expensive, as the titles would need to be purchased individually, and floated around the $10 mark per title. In the hypothetical scenario where the Expansion Pass is $15 or $20 more per month, users would be getting unlimited access to a growing list of games, rather than the maybe 2 or 3 titles one could've bought on the Wii U. Although users cannot buy and own those games, having unlimited access to them is still pretty good as well.
Ultimately, the success of this strategy will come down to the price point: Nintendo needs to find a justifiable price for its Expansion Packs based on what it is offering. A big benefit of Nintendo Switch Online is that its prices are already much lower than its competition in Game Pass and PS Plus, so Nintendo has some wiggle room with the Expansion Pack pricing. However, if Nintendo is not offering a solid selection of games, or is charging just way too much for the service, a potential Game Boy and GBA Expansion Pack is unlikely to do well. Still, many Nintendo Switch Online users would likely be happy to see such an expansion happen regardless of the cost.
Nintendo Switch Online's Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis Expansion Packs are coming soon.