Nintendo Switch Won’t Have Virtual Console Games at Launch

Megalith

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I’m not sure how big of a deal this is, since most prospective buyers are probably itching to play the new Zelda and not a bunch of older titles, but Nintendo has just shut down the dreams of gamers who did expect that virtual console would make it over to the Switch. The company’s language does suggest that the feature will eventually be available, however, so any disappointment should only be temporary. For something cheerier, here’s an official unboxing video.

Nintendo has provided a few more details on what its online shop will look like for the Nintendo Switch. One thing that won’t be there when the device launches on March 3rd is retro games: today the company announced that its virtual console classic games service “will not be available on Nintendo Switch at launch. We will share more information in the future.” Previous reports claimed that the Switch will eventually feature GameCube titles as part of its virtual console lineup. There will be at least a few titles on the Switch’s digital eShop at launch, however. Three indie titles will be available on the 3rd, including old-school platformer Shovel Knight, its latest expansion Specter of Torment, and Wipeout-style racer Fast RMX. Nintendo claims that the eShop will feature more than 60 indie games by the end of the year.
 
It's not like anyone is going to purchase the Switch for VC content, but it's a worrisome indication of Nintendo Nintendo-ing this product just like they did the Wii U. I bet when the VC finally does launch (likely after a series of delays that are never explained) that none of our previous purchases will transfer anyway.

I'll probably keep my preorder because I'm a addict for Zelda games which, I'm certain, is exactly what the big N is counting on.
 
i think my IQ just droped watching this video, nintendo trying to create a non existing hype.
it's amazing that the console is sold without any game bundled with it, it's laughable.
and doesn't matter what nintendo fans think, this is not a handheld console that you can take with you everywhere, it's way too big, maybe when they make tactile games and you wont need to add the controllers on the sides, but even then it's still too big to fit in a pocket.
 
Between the lack of the Virtual Console and a less than fully baked online multiplayer, I think Nintendo should have pushed back the launch a little bit.
 
Now, I know they're finally switching over to account based purchases, but will my Wii & Wii U VC titles be included if/when I finally decide to purchase a Switch?
 
As if I didn't want this thing already. Thanks for making my non-purchase easier.
 
I will get one for sure, but it may be a while before I purchase. I will let everyone else beta test for me.
 
Not one good bit of news has been released about this thing since the initial teaser....

1) Paid online
2) Need a phone to use chat
3) No virtual console
4) Overpriced
5) Anemic launch lineup

You would think that their marketing team would want to get in front of this.
 
Not one good bit of news has been released about this thing since the initial teaser....

1) Paid online
2) Need a phone to use chat
3) No virtual console
4) Overpriced
5) Anemic launch lineup

You would think that their marketing team would want to get in front of this.

Would you stand in front of a rock slide?
 
PR can only spin truth so much - until they become alternate truths.

Nintendo needs to stop being Nintendo. But I await the time that Nintendo goes the way of SEGA and then I might be able to get a worthwhile Metroid game, or Starfox, or F-Zero, or... Sometimes the Japanese Culture to stick with tradition really sucks and Nintendo won't get the point until they're no longer making hardware.

For being all gun hoe about the development phase when it was still called "NX" by yelling "For Iwata!" as a rallying call. They ended up coming with yet another confusing console that doesn't really have a place. It's not a home console.

To me this console is worse than the Wii U. It's trying to be a Jack of all Trades, Master of none.
 
Nintendo letting me bring over my virtual console games to the switch was the one bit of information that I was waiting on to make my decision of whether to buy a switch to play LOZ or just play buy and play it on the Wii U. I've got a ton of VC games on the Wii U and It will be a pain in the butt to keep switching between consoles to play old games that could easily be played on a rasp pi or a freaking toaster these days just because nintendo is too lazy to get VC emulation working on the switch. Its bad enough that if you bought a VC title on the 3ds it doesn't let you download it on the wii u as well. It was also despicable that if you bought wii VC games they didn't pull over onto the wii U as well (other than the emulated wii interface).

Nintendo needs to stop being greedy and start providing value. What people want is the ability to store and play all their old games in one place. I'll only buy Super Mario Bros 3 and yoshi's island so many times before I just tell them to f*** off and let them fade into nonexistence. It doesn't make sense for someone who bought a wii in 2006 and invested in a bunch of VC titles that they have to leave that wii connected to their tv in order to play the games they already bought when they have a wii u or a nintendo switch from the same damn company sitting right there as well.

I swear... if nintendo revomits their entire Wii U titles with Switch at the end of it; selling the exact same game and expecting more money for it... I'm just done....
Who wants to bet we will be seeing the following titles:

Super Mario 3D World Switch
WindWaker HD / Switch Edition
Yoshi's and Poochie's Wooley World Switch
Twilight Princess Switch HD

Its one thing if they put these games out... but give a discount to those who previously already bought the game... and DONT release these games in leiu of actual new games (Think about it.... IT IS F***ING 2017 and there has NEVER been a new Zelda game in HD. Period. Its unbelievable!)
 
Not one good bit of news has been released about this thing since the initial teaser....

1) Paid online
2) Need a phone to use chat
3) No virtual console
4) Overpriced
5) Anemic launch lineup

You would think that their marketing team would want to get in front of this.

2) The whole phone thing is super confusing because the Switch itself has a headphone jack that Nintendo says supports mics and headsets.

5) While the launch lineup isn't great, that's nothing new. Most console launches suck. I feel like Nintendo should have waited to launch the system until later in the years, but oh well. The bigger issue is their lack of titles for Holiday 2017. So far it's just Mario. They need to announce a lot more at E3, or sooner.

PR can only spin truth so much - until they become alternate truths.

Nintendo needs to stop being Nintendo. But I await the time that Nintendo goes the way of SEGA and then I might be able to get a worthwhile Metroid game, or Starfox, or F-Zero, or... Sometimes the Japanese Culture to stick with tradition really sucks and Nintendo won't get the point until they're no longer making hardware.

For being all gun hoe about the development phase when it was still called "NX" by yelling "For Iwata!" as a rallying call.

I've said this before but: Nintendo needs a culling, from the top down. The entire board of directors needs to go. Miyamoto needs to be asked to retire. They need to bring younger people up to the top. They need to listen to NOE and NOA about what their markets like and want. Sony had the same problem for many years, having no clue how to adapt to the changing world marker. Then they put Kaz in charge of everything and Sony has slowly be righting the ship not that someone that understands the worldwide market makes decisions.
 
Well this put the nail in the coffin for me. I just cancelled my pre-order. Too many other things I'd rather spend my money on. I was trying to use VC as another reason to get it but who am I kidding, this is going to be one of the most boring console launches of late and I don't need to support it with my dollars that's for sure.
 
I'm sure when the VC is released for the Switch, we'll get a steady stream of 3-5 Virtual Console titles per fiscal quarter for the Switch.
 
I'm sure when the VC is released for the Switch, we'll get a steady stream of 3-5 Virtual Console titles per fiscal quarter for the Switch.

And have to rebuy all the ones we previously bought on other systems. Fuck it. If I want to play old NES, SNES, and other games of the era I'm just going to build a RetroPie box. Piracy be damned, I feel no pity for Nintendo when it comes to that.
 
And have to rebuy all the ones we previously bought on other systems. Fuck it. If I want to play old NES, SNES, and other games of the era I'm just going to build a RetroPie box. Piracy be damned, I feel no pity for Nintendo when it comes to that.

Pretty much. Besides, I would imagine that BSNES is a far better emulator than the one Nintendo uses anyway.

The timings are so spot on that I can play the first few levels of Super Mario World by muscle memory alone.
 
And have to rebuy all the ones we previously bought on other systems. Fuck it. If I want to play old NES, SNES, and other games of the era I'm just going to build a RetroPie box. Piracy be damned, I feel no pity for Nintendo when it comes to that.

There was a game developer conference I saw awhile back where a dev was talking about porting old games to new and saving old games. Apparently many of the old games on the Wii were actually the same roms available online via pirates.
 
There was a game developer conference I saw awhile back where a dev was talking about porting old games to new and saving old games. Apparently many of the old games on the Wii were actually the same roms available online via pirates.

I'm sure a lot more than you'd think are. Data preservation was not something most studios really thought about before the era of digital downloads or the days when doing remakes and HD updates were a viable idea. This is especially true of the Japanese game industry. If Nintendo or a 3rd party doesn't have the source code anymore to compile or new copy or the ability to dump their own ROM easily it's simpler to snag a copy off the internet and use that. It's their IP after-all so legally they can do whatever they want. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of PS1 games that Sony sells digitally have also come from pirates. It's rather amusing given Nintendo's rather overbearing approach to protecting their IP, but not at all surprising.
 
And.... no Netflix at launch. WTF is wrong with Nintendo.

At launch? You mean ever. They don't want you to use it for online media. There is no online service support nor web browser support. It is meant 100% for gaming only... For the 3 games that you will have to play
 
At launch? You mean ever. They don't want you to use it for online media. There is no online service support nor web browser support. It is meant 100% for gaming only... For the 3 games that you will have to play

But its a home console too! ;)
 
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