Nintendo's "Virtual Boy" makes a comeback as a Switch accessory
The Virtual Boy from the 90s will soon return as an accessory for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, but only in the USA and Canada.
The Virtual Boy returns after 30 years.
(Image: Nintendo)
The new Virtual Boy looks confusingly similar to the original, but only consists of a plastic housing, stand and lenses. The display and computing power are provided by Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, which is inserted into the accessory.
This principle is familiar from early VR glasses such as Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream and Google Cardboard or Nintendo's own Labo VR system from 2019. Nintendo will also offer a cheaper cardboard version of the accessory.
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Joy-Con or Joy-Con 2 controllers are required to play, as well as an active subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo announced 14 games, including Virtual Boy classics such as "Mario Tennis", "Galactic Pinball" and "Teleroboxer". The first games will be released on February 17, 2026, with more to follow later.
According to the trailer, the Virtual Boy games will only be available in the USA and Canada. The price is 100 US dollars for the plastic version and 25 US dollars for the cardboard version of the accessory.
Virtual Boy: Nintendo's failed 3D experiment
The original was released in 1995, around 30 years ago. The Virtual Boy was Nintendo's attempt to establish a 3D games console on the market, inspired by the hype surrounding virtual reality at the time. Unlike today's VR goggles, the Virtual Boy did not offer head tracking, rested on a stand and was therefore used stationary on a table. The same applies to the modern Virtual Boy.
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The image of the original device was generated using an LED display and a mirror, offered a resolution of 384 Ă— 224 pixels and only displayed red and black, which became the Virtual Boy's trademark. The device failed on the market and is still considered one of Nintendo's biggest flops today. Find out more about the Virtual Boy and the VR era of the 90s in our VR history review.
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