Do You Want The Good NES Classic And SNES Classic News First, Or The Bad?
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime had an interview this week where he made clear the fate the NES Classic and SNES Classic. Both of these systems come with a pre-set number of games, and at first appeared to be limited to those games alone. This week, Fils-Aime put to bed rumors that either one of the consoles would have a path to attaining additional games at any point in the future. And there's more sorta bad news, too.
"There's no ability for add-on content with our classic consoles, so when you purchase the console it's coming with that set roster of content," said Fils-Aime. "We worked very hard, both for the NES Classic and the SNES Classic, to really have the best games that defined that generation. We've said that the current systems are the extent of our classic program."
Fils-Aime went on to note that Nintendo will continue to release content through Nintendo Switch Online. Through this internet-based program, users will be able to attain "new" classic content in the future. Fils-Aime suggested that the recent release of Ninja Gaiden, Wario's Woods, and Adventures of Lolo were good examples of NES generation content that'll continue to appear for the newest Nintendo gaming system. "We look at that as the main way that consumers will be able to experience that legacy content," said Fils-Aime.
No additional games will be added to the SNES Classic or NES Classic. If you hadn't heard any of the rumors over the last couple of years, you might have already been aware of this fact. The extra-bad news for gamers of the future is the next bit of news, also delivered by Fils-Aime in the same interview delivered this week with The Hollywood Reporter.
"We've also been clear that, at least from an Americas perspective, these products are going to be available through the holiday season and once they sell out, they're gone," said Fils-Aime. "And that's it." Such a hardware-based tragedy has never taken place at any point in the history of gaming, of that you can be sure. What you might want to hold onto for dear life is the hidden bit of hope in Fils-Aime's statement.
The part where he says "at least from an Americas perspective," is interesting. Could Nintendo continue to create other Classic consoles in other regions? Could we be able to import systems like the European variant of the SNES Classic, or the Japan-based Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer? Cross your fingers and your Famicons, ladies and gentlemen – great things COULD be happening, you've just got to dream it.