Still No Virtual Console on Switch
The fact that the Nintendo Switch has managed to garner a significant following void of online capabilities and Virtual Console is pretty incredible. It speaks volumes for just how much its hybrid functionality has resonated with gamers, especially in Japan where the console is absolutely soaring. But the honeymoon period is over now; E3 should have been a platform for Nintendo to transition away from what has felt like a soft launch. Yet still, we’re left waiting for news on one of the most beloved and valued features of any Nintendo console: access to its catalog of classic games.
So what on earth is going on with Virtual Console? Reggie Fils-Aime did speak to its absence at E3 in an interview in which he made it quite obvious that Nintendo is still figuring out how best to offer its “legacy content” (Nintendo isn’t actually calling the feature Virtual Console). He stated the company has heard the message and is busy trying to implement a system to tie in with Switch’s online subscription service. That essentially boils down to Nintendo working out how best to monetize those classic games and tier pricing and availability. Distressingly, though the bottom line is that an announcement still seems a way off.
Ultimately, Nintendo is aware of just how appealing its classic roster of games is going to be on Switch. Virtual Console, or whatever it will be called, is going to be highly lucrative for the company, and it wants to execute a solid strategy to take advantage of that.
