Rumor: Nintendo Switch Online May Add 3 More Classic Consoles

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Recent leaks indicate that Nintendo Switch Online may soon add three more classic consoles to its collection of retro game emulators. Nintendo Switch Online has become popular by letting players revisit beloved older consoles, or experience them for the first time. The service already includes greats like the N64, GameCube, and SNES, with many highly-rated games. Nintendo has even partnered with Sega, bringing the classic Sega Genesis to the platform.

While the Nintendo Switch Online service offers many advantages, some choices Nintendo has made have sparked debate. The initial release of the Expansion Pack, which added classic N64 and Sega Genesis games, was criticized primarily because of its higher price. A standard online subscription costs $19.99 annually, but the Expansion Pack costs $49.99 – a significant increase. Nintendo has tried to justify this price difference by adding more retro games, including Game Boy Advance and GameCube titles. The potential addition of three more classic consoles could finally make the higher price point feel reasonable to many players.

Wii, DS, and Sega CD All Rumored for Nintendo Switch Online

Image by TopMob

I was scrolling through Twitter and saw someone noticed a Wii Remote support page popped up on Nintendo’s website, which was weird. Then, Shpeshal_Nick – you know, the guy who’s usually right about the free PS Plus games – chimed in. He shared a screenshot from a Discord chat where he predicted Nintendo is planning to add three new emulators to Switch Online! He said it’ll be DS games (with an extra screen!), Wii games with Wii Remote support without needing the sensor bar, and even Sega CD! Apparently, that Wii Remote page was just a mistake on the website, but honestly, we’ve been hearing about DS games coming to Switch Online for ages. If Shpeshal_Nick is right about all this, a lot of us are going to be seriously happy!

A surprising detail from the recent leak suggests the new DS emulator might feature a second screen. It’s unknown whether this will be achieved by dividing the existing screen or through a separate accessory. Given past criticisms of Nintendo accessories – like a Switch 2 game needing one for full completion, or expensive, low-quality cameras – fans might be hesitant to buy a new DS screen if one is released. Many Nintendo enthusiasts will likely be interested in the Wii and DS, and it would be a significant improvement if the Wii didn’t require its sensor bar. However, including the Sega CD seems like a strange addition, as it was mostly known as an add-on for the Sega Genesis, with few highly-rated games beyond Sonic CD.

Nintendo Switch Online seems to be regaining fans’ confidence, with a growing library of games and recent leaks suggesting two GameCube titles are coming to the service. While not confirmed, these games will likely be part of the more expensive Expansion Pack due to their age and quality. Although leaks should always be viewed cautiously, the addition of Nintendo Wii or DS emulation would significantly improve the value of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for many players.

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2026-02-11 14:43