Nintendo Switch 2 and the Debate Over Game-Key Cards, Preservation, and Digital Access

Nintendo has officially unveiled the prices for the new Virtual Boy accessories designed for both the Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, peripherals that will be required to access the Virtual Boy games arriving on Nintendo Switch Online. The announcement came during the September 2025 Nintendo Direct, a presentation packed with major news including Mario’s 40th anniversary celebrations, the reveal of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and the debut of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. Yet one of the biggest surprises was the return of Nintendo’s infamous Virtual Boy console in digital form.

Nintendo confirmed that a selection of titles from the long-discontinued Virtual Boy will join the Switch Online library early next year, marking the first time many of these games will be accessible since their original release in the mid-1990s. To support the rollout, the company introduced new accessories that mimic the look of the original console and allow players to slot in their Switch or Switch 2 systems.

According to Nintendo’s official online store, the full-size Virtual Boy accessory will retail at $99.99 USD, while a smaller cardboard headset modeled after the console will be priced at $24.99 USD. Both versions are set to launch on February 17, 2026, alongside the first wave of Virtual Boy titles.

The addition of Virtual Boy games marks a rare opportunity for fans to revisit one of Nintendo’s most obscure chapters. The Virtual Boy, released in 1995, was discontinued in North America after just one year on the market, leaving only 22 unique titles developed worldwide. Most of those games have never been re-released, making the Switch Online collection particularly significant for preservation and accessibility.

The expansion also highlights Nintendo Switch Online’s growing scope, which has broadened further with the Switch 2. This year alone, Nintendo added GameCube classics like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II to the subscription, as well as special Switch 2 Edition upgrades for titles such as Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. With the inclusion of Virtual Boy, the service now reaches even deeper into Nintendo’s history, giving players access to one of the company’s most short-lived yet enduringly fascinating platforms.