Nintendo Reissues Virtual Boy Accessory, Sells Out Before Feb. 17
Accessory turns Switch and Switch 2 displays into red-tinted stereoscopic 3D and requires a $50-per-year Switch Online + Expansion Pack; it launches Feb. 17.
Overview
Nintendo said it will launch a recreated Virtual Boy accessory for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on Feb. 17 and that preorders have sold out.
The $100 plastic peripheral converts a Switch display into a red-tinted stereoscopic 3D viewer and requires a $50-per-year Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription to access the Virtual Boy library, Nintendo said.
A tech reviewer who tested the accessory at a Nintendo preview described it as comfortable and "an odd success," while critics warned of potential eye strain and called the library niche, marking the release by conflicting accounts.
Nintendo said seven titles will be available at launch, 14 Virtual Boy games are promised by the end of the year, and the original 1995 Virtual Boy sold 770,000 units worldwide, underscoring limited mainstream appeal.
Nintendo said it will also sell a $25 cardboard viewer, advised customers to check back on Feb. 16 for restock, and confirmed the accessory is incompatible with the Switch Lite and may need an adapter for the original Switch and Switch OLED.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this coverage as nostalgic rehabilitation, spotlighting retro charm and convenience while downplaying persistent criticisms. Language like "time capsule" and "deserves your respect," selective emphasis on comfort and playable titles, and structuring the piece around hands-on impressions steer readers toward appreciation rather than a purely technical evaluation.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Classic titles like Teleroboxer and Galactic Pinball will be available at launch on February 17, with seven titles initially and 14 promised by the end of the year.
An active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership ($50/year) is required to access the games, plus one of the Virtual Boy accessories for 3D viewing; a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership is needed to purchase the accessories.
The accessory is compatible with Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, but not with Switch Lite; it may require an adapter for original Switch and Switch OLED.
The plastic Virtual Boy accessory costs $100 and preorders sold out; a $25 cardboard version is also available. Check back on February 16 for restocks.
The games require the Expansion Pack subscription, but the accessory is needed only for the 3D stereoscopic effect; games may be playable in 2D without it, and workarounds like Labo VR or sensor spoofing are mentioned.
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