When Should Nintendo Launch the Switch's Virtual Console?

The date is December 29, 2017. Nintendo announces via Twitter to expect a Nintendo Switch themed Direct coming on January 2, 2018 at 7 am PT. People immediately begin speculating what Nintendo could talk about or announce. Further details for the previously announced Yoshi and Kirby games is the majority consensus of fans. Five days pass and the date in now January 2, 2018. It’s time. The Direct opens with a black screen and Mario’s signature “Wahoo!” Everyone instantly concludes that this must be new Super Mario Odyssey content, perhaps even paid DLC is coming to the game. Suddenly, the picture clears, and we see that the “Wahoo!” didn’t come from Super Mario Odyssey, but instead from Super Mario Sunshine. Not a remake, not even a remaster, but the original, unedited game. A short trailer recapping Mario’s adventure on Isle Delfino plays, followed by the classic Nintendo GameCube logo. There is a near audible cheer erupting online from excited fans realizing that this is Nintendo’s long awaited announcement of Virtual Console for the Switch.

Before anyone can collect their thoughts, the black screen turns to a list of game logos including: Super Smash Bros. Melee, Kirby Air Ride, Super Mario Strikers, Metroid Prime 1 and 2, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. Fans all around the world are freaking out over this announcement. “This is how they start the Direct?! How will they end it, then?!” The Direct continues as usual after this major announcement, Reggie and Bill Trinen include details about the GameCube virtual console, and how the launch games for the program will have new online features. The typical Nintendo charisma and charm are present, but everyone has kind of put the chatter of the Direct in the background of their minds, as they are tweeting about what was just announced. Approximately 10 more minutes pass as more, less exciting announcements are made, such as: all previous Virtual Console games will be returning for the Switch’s Virtual Console. There will be a slight discount on games players have previously purchased, and the previously SNES Classic exclusive, Star Fox 2, will also be making its way onto Switch VC. The Direct is winding down. It has been a near perfect announcement and nearly everyone is happy with what they have heard. Nintendo knocked this one out of the park. Then we hear Reggie say, “Thank you all for tuning in. But first, here is one more announcement…” The screen goes dark once more. Familiar music starts playing. Many of us recognize the music instantly, some of us do not recognize it at all. Then a logo appears, accompanied by triumphant music, “Earthbound 2”. Mother 3 is finally being officially localized and is launching on the Nintendo Switch Virtual Console! The screen transitions and simply says “1.9.18”, one week from the date of the Direct. At this point, many fans are in tears, others are screaming, some are doing both. Virtual Console is coming to the Switch with a bang.

I know after reading that, all of you are thinking, “Has this guy lost his mind? All of that would NEVER be announced in one Direct, and some of it will NEVER be announced at all!” Rest assured, I haven’t gone crazy, or at least not yet anyway. I know that this dream of a Direct, which I think we can all agree would be Nintendo’s greatest, will not be a reality. I just wanted to get us all excited. However, there are some things in that fantasy that I do believe could be true, and hope become true.

First of all, let’s talk about WHEN Nintendo will reveal the Switch’s Virtual Console. In the story above, I mentioned a specific date that Virtual console will be revealed, January 2, 2018. While there is no way any of us could know the exact date of the announcement, I do believe that it will come in the form of a Direct in January of 2018. Virtual Console for the Switch has been highly anticipated since before the Switch was even released. It will be a very big deal on Switch whenever it is announced. Nintendo will no doubt use a Switch focused Direct, as they would not simply announce this via Twitter. Why January of 2018? Well, it makes perfect sense. We have big first party games rolling out on the Switch the rest of 2017, such as Splatoon 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Mario+Rabbids, and the big one, Mario Odyssey coming in October. With all these major titles coming out this year, Nintendo does not NEED a major announcement like Virtual Console in 2017, as they have and will continue to have momentum the remainder of the year.  However, as 2017 rolls into 2018, things will start to change slightly. There will be many more new Switch owners after Christmas, exponentially growing the Switch consumer base. The people who have been playing Mario since October will be finishing up their 100% runs of the game. While there will still be plenty of games to play on Switch, hardcore fans will be clamoring for something new and something big, as will many of the new Switch owners. This, in my opinion, makes the turn of the year the perfect time to unveil Switch Virtual Console.

Now that the ideal time for Virtual Console is laid out, let’s talk about what it should launch with. Nintendo already has an impressive Virtual Console established on both Wii U and 3DS with games from nearly all their previous systems, including: NES, SNES, Gameboy, N64, and Gameboy Advance. In my opinion, Nintendo needs to bring back all of these systems through Virtual Console in 1 of 2 ways. Option 1 would be to have all previous Virtual Console titles available at the launch of the Switch’s VC. This seems unlikely, however. The more likely option is for Nintendo to roll out a few games for each of their previous VC systems each week, much like they did for the Wii U, but at a faster rate.

The Switch Virtual Console will need something new to set it apart from Virtual Console’s past, as simply bringing over the WII U’s VC library likely won’t satisfy most fans. The way for Nintendo to make this happen is actually pretty obvious. GameCube games on Virtual Console. This is something fans have been wanting and speculating about since the announcement of the Nintendo Switch. It was the one major system that the Wii U’s Virtual Console was missing, and could truly set the VC on Switch apart. GameCube games are a must for the Switch’s VC, and would certainly satisfy most fans and give us the all in one Nintendo console we have been wanting. The GameCube titles that would be available for the Virtual Console at launch would be anyone’s guess. There would likely be a slow trickle of GameCube games coming out, likely just 1 a week or a few a month. There would need to be one major game there at launch, though. For me, the game that would make the most sense is Super Mario Sunshine. This is an excellent 3D Mario game that has sadly been overshadowed by the likes of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. There has been a resurgence in demand for this game as of late, however, and the release of Super Mario Odyssey will likely only increase this demand. Therefore, releasing Super Mario Sunshine on Virtual Console 2-3 months after Mario Odyssey comes out makes all the sense in the world and would likely be a home run for Nintendo.

Well, there are my thoughts for how and when Nintendo should approach rolling out the Switch’s Virtual Console. These are just my opinions on what would be best, and what I am really hoping for. I want to hear your opinions though, so please tell me in the comments when you would like to see the Virtual Console on Switch, and what games/systems you would like to see on it!