Nintendo has officially launched its long-awaited VR accessory, Virtual Boy, giving Nintendo Switch 2 owners and certain Nintendo Switch users a new way to experience classic 3D games.
Originally announced in September 2025 and opened for pre-orders in December 2025, the pre-order window has now ended and the Virtual Boy is available to purchase directly from Nintendo. It’s designed to work with Nintendo Switch 2, as well as the standard Nintendo Switch and the Switch OLED model.
This accessory is more than a nostalgia-driven name. It’s required if you want to play Virtual Boy titles included in the Nintendo Switch Online lineup. In other words, if you’re planning to dive into the stereoscopic 3D classics arriving in the Nintendo Classics game library, you’ll need this headset-style add-on (or the cardboard alternative) to access those Virtual Boy games.
The standard Nintendo Virtual Boy is priced at $99.99. To buy it, you’ll need a Nintendo account and an active, paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. And if you want to actually play the Virtual Boy game collection, you’ll also need the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier, since that’s where the stereoscopic 3D library is included.
Nintendo’s original Virtual Boy console launched in 1995 and had a short run, but it still built a catalog of 22 games. For this modern release, Nintendo is starting smaller: seven Virtual Boy games are available at launch. More are on the way, though, with nine additional titles planned for later this year—including two games that were once announced for the original hardware but never released back then.
If the $99.99 accessory feels steep, Nintendo is also offering a lower-cost option called Virtual Boy (cardboard model) for $24.99. It’s available now and supports the same systems as the standard version: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch OLED.
For fans of retro Nintendo, 3D gaming, or anyone curious about how these classic stereoscopic titles feel on modern hardware, the Virtual Boy accessories mark a major update to the Nintendo Switch Online experience—especially with more games slated to arrive in the coming months.
