Credit: Nintendo
Nintendo has announced a new Virtual Boy accessory for the Switch and Switch 2 consoles that turns the handheld into a virtual reality headset. The accessory will come in two flavors: a premium plastic version for $100 and a budget cardboard version for $25.
First released in 1995, the Virtual Boy was marketed as some sort of immersive “virtual reality” device, but given its limited field of view, lack of motion tracking, and single-color (red) display, it was essentially just a 3D display on a stand. However, the console has been associated with “virtual reality” ever since, and it’s not exactly a positive one.
For all its ambition, the Virtual Boy was an embarrassing failure among gaming consoles, largely due to its minimal catalog of games, single-color display, and reports of motion sickness while playing. It was discontinued less than a year after its launch. Still, the console had its fans.
Now, for some reason, Nintendo has announced a revival of the Virtual Boy, releasing a new $100 replica that uses the Switch or Switch 2 (but not the Switch Lite) as the device’s “brains” and display. And it’s not just a publicity stunt: Nintendo is re-releasing original Virtual Boy games (first released 30 years ago) for the console.
Nintendo’s approach to creating an accessible VR accessory, especially in cardboard form, is reminiscent of the concept of Google Cardboard, released a decade ago, which democratized access to virtual reality via smartphones.
