Nintendo's Virtual Console was a staple of the Wii and Wii U consoles, allowing gamers to download and play classic games from various consoles. However, in 2018, Nintendo discontinued the service, opting for a paid subscription-based model instead.
Hamster Corporation, on the other hand, has announced that it will be reviving this concept with its new "Console Archives" series, which will offer downloadable versions of retro console games for individual purchase on the Switch 2. This move is seen as a direct response to Nintendo's decision, allowing gamers to once again access their favorite classic titles.
The first two releases in the Console Archives lineup are the original PlayStation snowboarding game Cool Boarders and the NES action platformer Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos. Both games will be available for $12 and $8 respectively, with more obscure titles, including Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special, promised to follow.
Hamster Corporation is behind the Arcade Archive series, which has been offering individual arcade games for purchase and emulation on modern consoles since 2014. The company's efforts have included some of Nintendo's classic arcade titles, which were never officially released on the Virtual Console.
The new console archives will offer a more bare-bones experience than Digital Eclipse's full-fledged interactive museums but still include features such as customizable button layouts, screen settings, and the ability to save and load at any time. Hamster Corporation is also calling out to game developers who own the rights to classic titles, inviting them to license or sell these rights in order for more games to be released.
This move may come as a welcome relief for gamers looking to revisit their childhood favorites or experience new classics on modern hardware. With the rise of subscription services and the shift towards digital distribution, it's reassuring to see companies like Hamster Corporation keeping the spirit of retro gaming alive.
Hamster Corporation, on the other hand, has announced that it will be reviving this concept with its new "Console Archives" series, which will offer downloadable versions of retro console games for individual purchase on the Switch 2. This move is seen as a direct response to Nintendo's decision, allowing gamers to once again access their favorite classic titles.
The first two releases in the Console Archives lineup are the original PlayStation snowboarding game Cool Boarders and the NES action platformer Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos. Both games will be available for $12 and $8 respectively, with more obscure titles, including Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special, promised to follow.
Hamster Corporation is behind the Arcade Archive series, which has been offering individual arcade games for purchase and emulation on modern consoles since 2014. The company's efforts have included some of Nintendo's classic arcade titles, which were never officially released on the Virtual Console.
The new console archives will offer a more bare-bones experience than Digital Eclipse's full-fledged interactive museums but still include features such as customizable button layouts, screen settings, and the ability to save and load at any time. Hamster Corporation is also calling out to game developers who own the rights to classic titles, inviting them to license or sell these rights in order for more games to be released.
This move may come as a welcome relief for gamers looking to revisit their childhood favorites or experience new classics on modern hardware. With the rise of subscription services and the shift towards digital distribution, it's reassuring to see companies like Hamster Corporation keeping the spirit of retro gaming alive.
this is awesome news!!! finally someone is stepping up to fill the void left by Nintendo's discontinued Virtual Console service! 
I mean, who doesn't love reliving childhood nostalgia and playing those classic games on a new console? 
it's great to see Hamster Corporation jumping into the fray with their Console Archives series. The prices are super reasonable too - $8 for Ninja Gaiden II is a steal! 
can't wait to see more obscure titles like Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special get added to the lineup 
let's hope the devs who own those classic games licenses them ASAP so we don't have to wait forever 
The fact that Hamster Corp is doing this without being all extra about it, like Digital Eclipse's interactive museums are cool and all, but also kinda pricey 
, makes me happy 
. It's just a more chill way to play the games we love, you know? And the prices are super reasonable too! I'm already hyped for the other titles they're gonna release 
. Maybe it's because the flavors have melded together in the fridge or something 
. I still have my original NES console collecting dust on my shelf, and it'd be awesome to play some of those oldies on the Switch 2. Let's hope they get more obscure titles in there too, I'm all about discovering new retro faves!
it's crazy how many people were feeling left out when they ditched that service. now we get to relive our childhood faves on switch 2 
either way, it's awesome that hamster corp is embracing the retro gaming scene 
. The fact that they're offering individual downloads for classic games is a great way to give gamers more control over what they buy and when 
. The fact that they're also including more obscure titles like Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special is just icing on the cake 
.
. This could lead to some amazing new releases, and I'm all for it 
. With the rise of subscription services and digital distribution, it's refreshing to see a company keeping the retro gaming spirit alive 
.
. Bring on more Console Archives releases! 
$8 for doraemon? yes please! can't wait to see what other retro gems they'll release 
i'm so hyped about hamster corp reviving console archives!!! 
that would be amazing!