If you’re thinking, “hey, that looks familiar,” you’re onto something. In today’s lengthy and eventful Nintendo Direct presentation, the brand announced that a new, Nintendo Switch-compatible Virtual Boy will release on Feb. 17, 2026, alongside the Virtual Boy games collection in the brand’s Classics library. The Virtual Boy, Nintendo’s oft-forgotten peripheral device from the gaming Golden Age, is coming back for another round. This time, though, Nintendo has introduced some contemporary changes that’ll (hopefully) lengthen the Virtual Boy V2’s lifespan and limit associated migraine headaches.
The games collection will, when complete, comprise 14 games. The original Virtual Boy, an eye-strain-inducing clunker released 30 years ago, only got 22 games in its entire run, so there’s not much else to anticipate beyond these. In order to play, though, gamers must acquire a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 handheld as well as the Virtual Boy accessory and a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
According to Nintendo, the new arrival comes with a few stipulations. The Virtual Boy collection will only be accessible in the United States and Canada. The Nintendo Switch Lite handheld is not supported, either; players in the U.S. and Canada must use a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2. Another noteworthy detail? The listing says that the “[Virtual Boy] can be purchased by those who have a paid Nintendo Switch Online Membership.
The brand doesn’t elaborate, but with recent tech shortages and inflated prices, the company may be opting for a more modest release. As fans across the United States continue to sound off about cost-prohibitive pricing from Nintendo and its prominent competitors, the introduction of a cardboard Labo-like option offers a sustainable, affordable way to play. While I can admire any cost-cutting measures in this economy, the cardboard concept is more of a Band-Aid than a long-term solution.
The official Virtual Boy replica will retail for $99.99 and come with the hardware and stand, Nintendo Switch/Nintendo Switch 2 attachments, an eye shade, and a lens cover. The comparatively cost-effective Virtual Boy Cardboard Model, which looks like a piece from the old Nintendo Labo line, will be available for $24.99 and come with only the Cardboard Model.
Are you planning on picking up the reimagined Virtual Boy?
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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