A recent interview has renewed many fans' hopes that Nintendo Switch Online could soon receive Game Boy titles. A leak earlier this year claimed that Game Boy Advance games would soon come to the service, but so far nothing of the sort has been officially confirmed. Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack subscription option was first announced in October of 2021, and has since added several new games and perks to the service.
Until late 2021, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription was primarily used for playing multiplayer games online and accessing a library of NES and SNES titles. The initial NSO Expansion Pack subscription included access to a handful of N64 and Sega Genesis games, as well as the Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC Happy Home Paradise. Since then, new titles for each platform have made their way to the service, as has access to the Mario Kart Booster Pack DLCs and special gear for Splatoon 2. There have long been theories about what will be added next to Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack, with rumors of Game Boy titles being added first gaining traction soon after the Expansion Pack's release last year, when Nintendo stated its plans to continue expanding the service.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa stated in a recent interview that Nintendo will continue to expand Nintendo Switch Online's service throughout this year, VideoGamesChronicle reports. Furukawa pointed out that although subscription numbers for the service have not been released since last year, they have been steadily growing since the release of the Expansion Pack. Retention of users is a priority for Nintendo, as is continuing to add value to the subscription service, with Furukawa stating:
"Of course, there are customers who allow their subscribership to expire, and then they don’t renew, so we believe it is important to continue releasing software that allows players to continue enjoying, not only online play, but also enhances their overall experience."
Although it is all speculative, Furukawa's statements about continuing to add to the service have no doubt refueled the rumors of Game Boy games soon making their way to the platform. These new games coming to the service would undoubtedly raise the value of the subscription, and perhaps convince some players who balked at the price of Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack to consider upgrading. However, despite past leaks and this new interview, it's important for fans to keep in mind nothing has been confirmed - the new additions to the service could very well be more N64 and Sega Genesis titles.
The addition of a brand new section of emulated games would surely increase excitement about Nintendo Switch Online, and likely drive new users to the service. Although still a rumor, the repeated leaks and and comments from Nintendo executives do strongly imply that Game Boy titles will make their way to the console at some point. Nintendo has long tried to raise the appeal of Nintendo Switch Online and its Expansion Pack, and these rumored new titles could be just what the service needs to broaden its appeal.
Source: VideoGamesChronicle