Nintendo 64 Classic Gets Some Bad News
With the NES and SNES Classics turning into big successes for Nintendo, it stands to reason that the company would give its other classic consoles the same treatment, right? Next up on the list for a classic style re-release would be the Nintendo 64, and though we've seen some rumors here and there, Nintendo hasn't officially announced the product. As it turns out, that announcement may not be coming for a while, if it ever comes at all.
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has indicated that for now, at least, Nintendo doesn't have any plans to launch an N64 Classic. According to him, the launches of the NES Classic and SNES Classic had a strategic purpose beyond just taking advantage of nostalgia, as they were meant to "bridge from the conclusion of Wii U as a hardware system to the launch of Nintendo Switch."
In an interview with Kotaku, Fils-Aime said that both retro consoles were viewed as "limited time opportunities" within Nintendo, suggesting that the company doesn't view the N64 Classic as an essential addition to its hardware lineup. Fils-Aime did say that Nintendo is aware that consumers want access to classic content, which he notes is something that will "happen more and more with the subscription service."READ MORE: SNES Classic Review
The subscription service he's referring to is, of course, Nintendo Switch Online. One of the perks of signing up for a Switch Online subscription is access to a library of classic NES games that have been updated with online multiplayer in some cases. Nintendo has even gone so far as releasing a special save file for The Legend of Zelda, and when that was launched, Nintendo suggested that it might do more like that in the future.
At the moment, Switch Online only offers NES games, with titles from the SNES or N64 libraries nowhere to be seen. Since Switch Online seems to be taking the place of the Virtual Console that was so successful on Wii and Wii U, it begs the question: will Switch Online one day offer SNES and N64 games alongside the NES titles that are currently available? Fils-Aime didn't say anything official in his interview with Kotaku, but what he did say certainly seems to suggest they will.
Here's hoping that's what Nintendo does, because right now, things are looking bleak for a potential N64 Classic. Fils-Aime said he isn't going to rule anything out, but such a release isn't currently planned. If we do eventually get an N64 Classic, then, it's probably at least a while off.