Nintendo announces Virtual Boy accessory
This is a real blast from the past.
This week during their September Direct, Nintendo announced a new accessory for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 — a Virtual Boy, a remake of one of the first VR headsets ever made, now made workable for the Switch and Switch 2. It was announced alongside other retro games coming to the Switch and Switch 2 like Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2.
Keeping with the red design of the original, the new Virtual Boy can either be a plastic version like the original, or a cardboard version, similar to Google Cardboard. The cardboard version does not have a way to support itself, but the plastic one does, with a stand for a table, just like the original.
It also comes bundled with an expansion pack for a handful of games from the original Virtual Boy, in the classic black-and-red color scheme. You will also need to buy the Virtual Boy to play the games for it. This is presumably because they were not made for the single screen experience that the Switch and Switch 2 have (along with every other device) and the Virtual Boy has a screen for each eye.
The plastic version will cost an eye-watering $99 and the cardboard version will be a much-better $25. They will start shipping on February 17, 2026 and they will be available only for Nintendo Switch Online members.
The Virtual Boy accessory is a nice add to the nostalgia of old consoles that are being revived. We will have to see what Nintendo does soon.
