Nintendo ANZ

Virtual Boy is BACK (of all things)!

January 28, 2026 By ausretrogamer

🎮 Virtual Boy is BACK! Are You Ready For Some Headaches?🎮

Nintendo has officially dusted off one of its most infamous pieces of hardware – the Virtual Boy – and is bringing it back into the spotlight in 2026. Yep, that 90s red-tinted headset that gave everyone a weird mix of wonder and eye strain is getting a second life… on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2!

🗓️ Launch Date: 17th February 2026

Whether you loved it, mocked it, or just remember it as that red thing, the Virtual Boy is returning in a modern form. Starting February 17, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers will be able to play the Virtual Boy classics under the banner Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics.

To actually play them, you’ll need:

A Nintendo Switch or Switch 2
An active Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership
And the special Virtual Boy accessory (more on that below)

🧠 The Games You Can Play at Launch

Nintendo is kicking things off with seven throwback titles that highlight both the quirky and the genuinely good stuff from the original 1995 library:

🎯 Launch Line-Up (17 Feb)

Teleroboxer
Galactic Pinball
RED ALARM
Virtual Boy Wario Land
3-D TETRIS
GOLF
Innsmouth no Yakata (aka: The Mansion of Innsmouth)

This is a way better start than anyone expected. especially Wario Land and 3-D Tetris, which are genuinely fun even beyond the nostalgia factor.

🎁 More Games Coming Later in 2026

And here’s where it gets spicy: Nintendo isn’t stopping at the basics. Throughout 2026, more titles will roll out, including some classics and even games that never officially released back in the 90s!

🚀 Confirmed Incoming Titles

Mario Clash
Mario’s Tennis
Jack Bros.
Space Invaders Virtual Collection
Virtual Bowling
Virtual Force
V-Tetris

🔥 Unreleased Classics Making Their Debut

Zero Racers – a cancelled F-Zero spin-off originally meant for the Virtual Boy 30 years ago.
D-Hopper (Dragon Hopper) – another lost Virtual Boy adventure finally seeing the light of day.

That’s right — Nintendo’s pulling stuff out of the vault that never made it to retailers. Retro archaeologists are going to have a field day. 🦖

🥽 So What’s This Accessory You Keep Talking About?

To recreate that vintage stereoscopic 3D feel, Nintendo’s releasing a Virtual Boy accessory that you attach your Switch into — basically a modern take on the original headset.

They’ve teased:

A premium plastic version (harder wearing, classic vibe) – pre-order price: AUD$139.95
A cardboard version (budget Labo-style energy) – pre-order price: AUD$29.95

Both plug into your system and let you fire up these retro titles as intended.

🎮 Quality-of-Life Additions

Unlike the 90s original, this service isn’t just about emulating old binaries — Nintendo is including modern comforts like:

✅ Save states & rewind
✅ Control remapping
✅ …and possibly even colour options beyond red later in the year 👀

So even if the original gave you headaches, this version might be actually enjoyable — and worth dusting off that Switch. 😉

🧠 Wrapping Up

Is this a nostalgic gag? A genuine retro renaissance? Or just Nintendo poking fun at history? Probably a mix of all three — and we’re here for it.

Mark your calendars:
📅 17th February 2026 – Virtual Boy classics land on Switch Online.
👾 Retro fans, preppers, and weird 3D enthusiasts unite.

Stay tuned to Ausretrogamer for hands-on impressions once this bizarre comeback lands Down Under!🔥

image source: Nintendo

Unleash Your Creativity With Nintendo’s Game Builder Garage

May 6, 2021 By ausretrogamer

LEARN TO MAKE GAMES FROM THE MINDS AT NINTENDO WITH GAME BUILDER GARAGE FOR NINTENDO SWITCH

Have fun learning to create games with the new game-making game launching on 11^th June

Have you ever dreamed of creating your own video game? That dream can become a reality with Game Builder Garage, launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 11^th June. With this new software launching in Nintendo eShop and in stores across Australia and New Zealand, kids and parents – and everyone in between! – can have fun learning to create and share their own video games. By connecting colourful creatures called Nodon, anyone can enjoy learning how to create their own game through fun, guided lessons that cover the basics of visual game programming, and no prior experience is necessary! To get an idea of what Nodon look like and how they work in the game, as well as getting a taste of the types of games you can create, check out the Game Builder Garage announcement trailer below:

source: NintendoAU

Nodon are creatures with big personalities that are used to help build your games from the ground up. There are dozens of Nodon in Game Builder Garage, each with a unique function, and you can learn how to build games just by connecting them in various ways. For example, you can create and move a human-like character with an analogue stick just by connecting Stick Nodon with Person Nodon! Thus you will get to learn the basics of game programming in a fun and intuitive way. You’ll be able to create a wide variety of different types of video games too – from side-scrolling platformers, to kart racers, to space blasters!

When you first boot up Game Builder Garage, you can start with Lesson Mode. Here, you will meet the colourful and quirky Nodon, the creatures that you will use to learn the basic concept of visual programming in step-by-step, interactive lessons you can take at your own pace. These lessons are designed to be fun, engaging and perfect for people of all experience levels, with checkpoints in between for players to test their knowledge by solving small puzzles or tasks.

In Free Programming mode, you can bring your own game ideas to life by putting all the skills learned in the lessons to the test. With the simple press of a button, you can swap between the programming and game screen to quickly try out your creation and see how it plays.

If you’re looking for a little inspiration, you can exchange and download games with friends and family over the internet or via a local wireless connection.* This is a great way to not only show off some of your own creations, but also to check out games created by other players. You can even go into Free Programming mode to pull the curtain back on the programming of games uploaded by other players to study them and learn some tricks of your own!

While Game Builder Garage can be controlled with a Joy-Con controller, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller or the controls of Nintendo Switch Lite**, you can also build games using a compatible mouse that is plugged into the USB port on the Nintendo Switch dock. This control option might be easier for people who love the feel of a mouse when navigating the software.

Game Builder Garage launches on 11^th June, with a suggested retail price of AU$49.95.

** If playing on Nintendo Switch Lite, additional accessories (sold separately) are required and gameplay controls may differ. Visit the Nintendo Support website for more information.

Press release supplied by Nintendo Australia

Nintendo Labo: Make, Play, Discover

January 18, 2018 By ausretrogamer

The big news of the day has to be the announcement of Nintendo Labo, a brand new build and play interactive experience for your Nintendo Switch! From piano to motorbike, a robot and much more, each Toy-Con comes to life when combined with the mighty Switch.

Don’t believe us, then check out the trailer below. Basically, this cardboard tech will tickle your creative bone, we just hope that it could somehow be integrated with our PinBox 3000 😉

Nintendo announced two Toy-Con kits (Variety and Robot) with a Customisation Set that will provide handy materials, like stencils, stickers and tape. Nintendo Labo kits will be available on April 20 in Australia. So, what’s the verdict?