Nintendo plans to release a Virtual Boy attachment compatible with both the current Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, enabling VR gameplay in select titles, according to a report from Video Games Chronicle. Players can access four specific games in VR mode: Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
These VR experiences use the existing adaptations originally developed for the Nintendo Labo VR kit, which was designed for the initial Switch model and involved assembling a simple cardboard viewer along with related components.
This development offers a significant benefit to Switch 2 users, given that the Labo setups are incompatible with the latest hardware. As a result, the Virtual Boy accessory provides the exclusive means to enjoy these four VR-enhanced games on the new console. Additionally, the enhanced edition of Breath of the Wild for Switch 2 retains its VR functionality.
Potential limitations exist with the accessory. It comes in two formats: a dedicated hardware device or a cardboard alternative. The latter costs just $25 and serves as the recommended option for VR gaming sessions.
The hardware model mounts on a base, similar to the classic Virtual Boy design, which restricts head movements during play. In contrast, the cardboard version allows greater freedom of motion. The hardware unit features removable red-tinted lenses to replicate the authentic visual style, though they can be taken off if desired.
On the other hand, the hardware variant proves more suitable for running genuine Virtual Boy titles, since those were created with a stationary, table-supported headset in mind. Consumers must weigh whether the added expense of $100 justifies this hardware choice. It's also disappointing that original Virtual Boy software cannot be used with the Labo VR headset on the first-generation Switch.
Both accessory options launch on February 17, coinciding with the addition of various classic Virtual Boy titles to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack library. They will be sold through the My Nintendo Store. Hands-on testing of the device revealed it to be engaging, yet it retains the quirky and bulky nature of its predecessor from three decades prior.
For context, the Virtual Boy debuted as a standalone Nintendo system in 1995, marking one of the earliest attempts at a consumer VR platform and thus pioneering the technology well before its mainstream rise. The device proved awkward to use, limited gameplay to monochrome red visuals, and lacked any motion-tracking features. In the U.S., only 14 titles were released before production ended.