Information uncovered by data miner LuigiBlood, through analysis of leaked iQue emails, suggests Nintendo’s past plans for a Switch Virtual Console, internally known as “Clipper.” Development on this project commenced around 2015, with contributions from M2, NERD, and iQue. Notably, iQue’s involvement wasn’t unprecedented. They had previously worked on a now-scrapped GameCube emulator for the Wii U in 2013.
This planned Virtual Console had several distinctive features. One such feature was a CRT mode, which would have presented a nostalgic animation of a CRT television powering on, complete with console-specific startup sounds. Testing during development included titles like Final Fantasy 1 and 3, along with various Mega Man games. Players would have also had the ability to adjust game speed.
Online play was also a focus, with a proposed mode for up to four players featuring controller shuffling every 30 seconds, and communication options such as emojis and preset messages like “thx,” “sry,” “plz,” and “cya.”
Ultimately, however, “Clipper” was discontinued and replaced by what became Nintendo Switch Online, which was codenamed “L-Classics.” By May 2017, mentions of “Clipper” stopped. The shift in direction is believed to have stemmed from two main concerns: the considerable expense associated with extensive emulator testing and user feedback from the Wii U era expressing dissatisfaction with having to re-purchase previously owned games.
Nintendo Switch Online sought to resolve these issues by offering a subscription service providing access to classic titles without requiring individual purchases. Nintendo’s past confirmation that Switch Online will continue on their next console indicates the ongoing importance of this strategy.
NintendoUp’s Take
Would you have preferred the virtual console coming back over Nintendo’s online subscription service? Frankly, I’m not so sure. Virtual Console titles were almost always a bit overpriced, so for the cost of a couple Virtual Console games per year, you’d basically cover the subscription fee for NSO.
My main problem with NSO is that there’s not enough games. Nintendo releases new games once a month—at best—when it should be once per week like the old Wii Virtual Console.
Let me know your thoughts on a potential Switch Virtual Console in the comments down below.