10 Worst Things That Nintendo Have Done
8. Pay For Games You Don't Own Over and Over
The Wii and Wii U utilised an emulation service called the Virtual Console that allowed customers to download retro games. By hopping onto the Wii Shop Channel or Nintendo eShop, consumers could trade points or real currency to buy Nintendo titles. It may have been pure nostalgia bait, but it was gratifying to replay classics from various consoles.
The Virtual Console was such a hit, it was assumed Nintendo would utilise a similar system for the Switch. But 2016's Nintendo Switch Online worked differently since it allowed members access to a myriad of old-school titles for a reasonable fee.
But when Mega Drive and N64 games were added to the service in 2021, the price skyrocketed. Not only was this announcement universally panned, another detail started to dawn on the gaming community. Being a subscription service, subscribers didn't technically own the games. Rather than playing a flat fee for each title, Switch owners must keep paying to maintain access to Nintendo's library. After a couple of years, subscribers will have forked over hundreds of dollars.
The Virtual Console was so straightforward and positively received, it's clear the only reason Nintendo replaced it with this over-priced system is to line their pockets.