With the news that the Virtual Console would not have a presence on the Nintendo Switch, which has been a staple of the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo Wii U systems, the line of Nintendo Classic consoles have stepped in to fill in the gap. Not long ago Nintendo stated during their quarterly briefing that these consoles would act as a bridge to the Switch. A patent was filed by the company for both the Nintendo 64 software and its controller. Coincidence? I think not. We will soon see a Nintendo 64 Classic console, much like the SNES Classic and the NES Classic before it. If Nintendo keeps coming out with these classic consoles, what need is there for the Virtual Console?
I’ll be frank: there is no need, especially with Nintendo releasing a number of Wii U ports on the Nintendo Switch. Yes, there are games missing from the Classic line of consoles, but it’s the direction Nintendo’s moving in. And, we don’t know what games Nintendo will release in the future with their online service. It’s a wait-and-see game, but the classic line of consoles aren’t nearly as difficult to find as they once were. The Super Nintendo Classic is stocked at least twice a month at my local Target. Next month the NES Classic is making its return to store shelves. With the NES, SNES, and N64 Classic, who needs a virtual console? Nintendo is making it obsolete at this point. They are creating a brand of classic consoles and people are eating them up, whether for nostalgic reasons or because they’ve never played them before.
There’s no need for a Virtual Console anymore. The only thing missing is a GameCube Classic, but that’s sure to come out in due time. Nintendo Classic Consoles are replacing the Virtual Console, and is that such a bad thing? The Virtual Console was outdated. Many games have been remade on the Nintendo 3DS, such as Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. Many have discounted the possibility of older games showing up on the eShop, but that’s not out of the realm of possibility. Regardless of that though, Nintendo has rendered the Virtual Console obsolete as long as they keep the Classic line of consoles in production.
The Nintendo Switch has been a massive success. The NES and SNES Classic consoles have been massive successes. There is no incentive for Nintendo to continue the Virtual Console program when they have actual, real-life retro consoles selling for quite a bit. Not to mention that there is (in all likelihood) an N64 Classic on its way. This is Nintendo’s new strategy, and it’s here to stay, like it or not.
Embrace it, or don’t — although if you don’t, you will be missing out!