A new Nintendo Switch Online leak suggests that three classic consoles may be added to the ever-growing roster of emulators that the service provides. Nintendo Switch Online has been a great way for gamers to reconnect with classic consoles they either grew up loving or never had the chance to play. The service has seen legendary consoles such as the N64, GameCube, and SNES all come to the service, with a lineup of games often hailed as masterpieces. The Nintendo Switch Online has even seen collaborations with a once-competitor, Sega, bringing the 90s staple Sega Genesis console to the service.
Despite all these benefits, some controversial decisions have occasionally turned up too. Many fans had an issue with the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack upon its release, largely due to its pricing. The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack brought N64 and Sega Genesis games, resulting in a price increase for games that were viewed as more premium. The base subscription, providing every service except for the newer emulators, costs $19.99 a year, while the Expansion Pack charges $49.99 a year, a sizeable price jump. Nintendo has made decisions to justify this increase, such as adding the Game Boy Advance and GameCube emulators to the Expansion Pack, and the introduction of three new rumored classic consoles may finally make this pricing seem warranted to some gamers.
Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack Has Done a Full 180 Since Release
Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack was heavily criticized at launch, but it’s really started to come into its own as of late.
Wii, DS, and Sega CD All Rumored for Nintendo Switch Online
On Twitter, Shpeshal_Nick, best known for correctly predicting the PS Plus monthly games on various occasions, responded to a post pointing out that a Wii Remote support page had appeared on Nintendo’s official website. Shpeshel_Nick replied with a screenshot of a Discord chat in which he had stated that Nintendo will be adding three new emulators: the DS with an extra screen, the Wii with a Wii Remote that doesn’t need the sensor bar, and Sega CD. It’s worth noting that the Nintendo Wii Remote support page was apparently just a website error. Regardless, Nintendo Switch Online has been rumored to be getting DS games for months now, and many gamers will likely be thrilled if if Shpeshal_Nick’s info turns out to be correct.
One of the most interesting aspects of this leak is the fact that the DS emulator is said to have an extra screen. Whether this means splitting the screen already in use into two or Nintendo releasing an accessory for this function is currently unclear. Following the various controversies over the console’s accessories, such as one of the Nintendo Switch 2’s titles requiring an accessory for 100% completion or the high price tags for subpar cameras, fans may not be too eager to purchase a potential Nintendo DS screen upon release. The Nintendo Wii and DS are obvious choices for huge Nintendo fans, and not needing the Wii’s sensor bar would be a huge change, although adding the Sega CD seems an odd choice. Aside from Sonic CD, there were few acclaimed games released for the console, mostly thanks to its use as an accessory to the Sega Genesis.
With an ever-expanding roster of consoles and games and two new GameCube titles leaked for Nintendo Switch Online, it seems the service may have finally earned back the trust of fans. While it’s not stated whether these proposed emulators would be part of the Expansion Pack or not, it’s likely they would, given their more modern release dates and the caliber of their games. It’s always best to take leaks with a grain of salt, no matter how reliable, but a Nintendo Wii or DS emulator would likely make the Nintendo Switch Online subscription a much better value for many fans.
