The upcoming Nintendo Switch video game console will come without the ability to play old-school titles.
The console, which goes on sale on March 3, will not support games from Virtual Console, a digital marketplace for Nintendo and third-party video games initially made for older game consoles and portable devices.
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Nintendo (NTDOY) has made its two previous consoles, the Wii and Wii U, compatible with Virtual Console, as well as its 3DS portable gaming device. The company did not say why Virtual Console won’t initially be available on Switch, a highly anticipated gaming console from Nintendo.
In a statement on Thursday, Nintendo left open the possibility that Virtual Console games would be available through the Switch in the future. The company did not immediately respond to a request by Coins2Day for comment.
The disclosure about Virtual Console was made at the same time Nintendo announced that it would offer more than 60 games through its eShop digital store for the Switch, but that only three of those games will be available at launch. Nintendo didn’t say exactly when the other games would be available, but it did say that it would be sometime before the end of the year.
The Nintendo Switch, which will cost $300, is the latest home console from the iconic game company. But unlike its previous hardware, which was tethered to televisions, the Switch is designed to be a hybrid device that can be played both at home and on the go. When at home, the device is inserted into a dock that’s connected to the television. When gamers are on the go, they can attach control sticks to the Switch and continue playing.
Nintendo is also releasing the game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on March 3. The game is one of the more anticipated on the year, thanks in no small part to The Legend of Zelda franchise’s popularity.
