The Worst-Promoting Nintendo Console Ever Is Returning as a Change 2 Accent

Nintendo is bringing again probably the most underrated {hardware} in its storied historical past as an adjunct for the Switch 2. The recreated Virtual Boy nonetheless has the basic kickstand and faceplate. Nonetheless, as an alternative of sporting its personal display screen, you’ll want to fit in your Change 2 to create the basic black and purple “3D” visuals.

At first look, the brand new Digital Boy seems like a pitch-perfect transform of Recreation Boy creator Gunpei Yokoi’s odd kickstand-based console. The principle distinction is that there’s no display screen inbuilt. You open up the lid and pop in your Change 2 or unique Change to behave because the display screen as an alternative. This suggests that customers will be capable of play these Digital Boy video games even with out the additional peripheral, as long as they pay the $50 a 12 months for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.

Should you don’t need to anticipate the total plastic Digital Boy to reach, Nintendo stated it’s additionally going to promote a cardboard model akin to its outdated Labo line of build-it-yourself paper Change peripherals.

Both manner, gamers may have entry to 14 video games at launch, together with at the very least one former Japan-only title. The Mario maker stated the peripheral and 14 video games will launch on Feb. 17 in 2026. Players will get to play titles like Galactic Pinball, Crimson Alarm, Mario Conflict, VTetris, and Digital Bowling. There’s no pricing data for both Digital Boy equipment but, however the cardboard model will certainly value quite a bit much less. We’ll have to attend and see if it finally ends up costing extra within the U.S. than globally. Nintendo recently hiked prices on most of its peripherals and older Change consoles, possible on account of Trump tariffs.

The unique Digital Boy was Nintendo’s worst-selling console in its historical past, solely promoting 770,000 items worldwide earlier than the corporate pulled the plug. By comparability, the corporate’s subsequent worst-selling console, the Wii U, offered 13.6 million.

I already know a few of you studying this are about to ream me within the feedback after I use the phrase “underrated.” Let me level you to the various Virtual Boy emulators out there on VR headsets just like the Meta Quest and Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Digital Boy Wario Land is a real underrated gem that by no means acquired the eye it deserved at launch, largely as a result of awkward and unnatural {hardware}. Now we’ll all get to attempt Wario Land and different titles like Mario’s Tennis in a extra correct manner than emulation.