Don't sell that NES Classic: Nintendo Switch won't support Virtual Console at launch

By Gabe Gurwin February 23, 2017

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Nintendo Switch will support a library of classic games through the Virtual Console, giving players the opportunity to play titles from the NES, SNES, and possibly even the GameCube, but the feature is apparently not going to be ready on March 3.

Nintendo made the announcement in a press release this morning, saying that Virtual Console games “will not be available on Nintendo Switch at launch” and that it would offer more specifics on the system later.

Nintendo has been remarkably silent regarding the Virtual Console system thus far. It’s still unclear if players will have to pay an upgrade fee in order to access previously purchased games on the Switch, or if they’ll be forced to purchase them again entirely. We do know that purchases will now be tied to users’ Nintendo Accounts rather than their Switch consoles, which should make the transferring process less painful. Any funds users previously had in their Nintendo Accounts’ wallets will also be accessible on the Switch right away, provided that they have linked their Nintendo Account and Nintendo Network ID.

Much like the systems used by Xbox and PlayStation, Switch owners won’t have to purchase eShop games directly on the console in order to play them. Games can now be ordered via Nintendo’s website so they can automatically download to the Switch, provided there is a Wi-Fi connection.

In addition to the AAA releases launching alongside the Switch like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2 Switch, we now also know that three indie eShop games will be available on March 3. Racing game FAST RMX as well as Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and the compilation Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove — which bundles Specter of Torment with all previous content — will be available to purchase on launch day. More information on the Switch’s lineup of independent games will be revealed during a special “Nindies Showcase” on February 28 at noon ET.

The Nintendo Switch launches on March 3.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

Gaming

Marvel’s Midnight Suns for Nintendo Switch canceled ahead of last-gen launch

Hulk shouts at an enemy in Marvel's Midnight Suns.

Superhero strategy game Marvel's Midnight Suns is getting its long-delayed Xbox One and PS4 port on May 11, but there's some bad news for Nintendo Switch owners: The Switch version of the game has been canceled.
2K Games and Firaxis released Marvel's Midnight Suns, a card-based strategy game focusing on the supernatural side of the Marvel comic book universe, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S last December. While Digital Trends enjoyed the game, it underperformed financially and the game's director left Firaxis altogether following its release. Originally slated to launch alongside the current-gen versions of Midnight Suns in October 2022, the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions of the game were indefinitely delayed when the game was pushed to December.

Now, the PS4 and Xbox One ports will finally come out digitally alongside the Blood Storm expansion on May 11, but 2K confirmed in the press release announcing the date that "the Nintendo Switch version of Marvel's Midnight Suns will no longer be offered as part of updated plans."
Additionally, the release calls Blood Storm the "final" DLC for Midnight Suns, so it seems unlikely that the game will continue to receive lots of post-launch support, unlike other Firaxis titles such as Sid Meier's Civilization VI and XCOM 2. That's certainly a more muted ending than one would expect from a Marvel game from the industry's premier strategy developers.
Marvel's Midnight Suns will finally launch for PS4 and Xbox One on May 11. It's currently available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Gaming

It’s the last day of Nintendo’s April Indie Sale — don’t miss these 7 great games

hades best builds key art new cropped hed 1244036

Nintendo just hosted an Indie World showcase and previewed some exciting indie games like Rift of the Necrodancer, Blasphemous 2, and Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. While the Nintendo Switch has always been a first-party, AAA-title machine, it's also become an indie powerhouse over the years and is home to some of the best small games on the market. To celebrate its stream, Nintendo just launched a weeklong sale on some of its top indie titles, including all-time greats like Celeste and Hades.

The sale kicked off on April 19 and runs until April 26 at midnight PT. While you have a good week to browse, here are seven excellent deals that you'll want to take advantage of before time's up.
Celeste -- $5 (75% off)

Gaming

Nintendo confirms that it won’t be part of E3 2023

Pikmin and Bulborb in Pikmin 4.

Nintendo has confirmed reports that it won't be participating in E3 2023, meaning the gaming trade show will be missing one of its key vendors when it returns in-person this June.
"We approach our involvement in any event on a case-by-case basis and are always considering various ways to engage with our fans," a Nintendo spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge. "Since this year’s E3 show didn’t fit into our plans, we have made the decision to not participate. However, we have been and continue to be a strong supporter of the ESA [Entertainment Software Association] and E3."
After taking 2020 and 2022 off and being digital-only in 2021, this year was supposed to mark the grand return of E3, which was once a dominant game industry trade show that attracted every big video game company. Although Sony hasn't participated since 2019, it still came as a shock in January when IGN reported that both Nintendo and Microsoft would not be attending E3 this year as well. It appears that the report is true, as Microsoft has not confirmed any E3-related events outside of its independently run Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase.
Nintendo skipping E3 2023 not only takes away a vendor that dominated the show floor in previous years, but also raises questions about whether or not the company will hold an exciting Nintendo Direct around then. While Nintendo typically holds a big showcase with lots of first-party game announcements around June every year, in 2022 it only held a third-party driven Partner Showcase in June. Now that we know it won't be at E3 2023, we're left to wonder when exactly then next big Nintendo Direct will be.
E3 2023 will take place between June 13 and June 16, but don't expect Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft to have a big presence there.