Nintendo Switch Online Could Expand with Sega Mega-CD, DS, and Wii Games
Nintendo is reportedly planning to add more classic consoles to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, following the recent inclusions of GameCube and Virtual Boy titles. While many fans still lament the loss of the Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online has gradually evolved into a robust subscription offering packed with nostalgic games.
Insider Reveals Potential New Additions
According to insider Adam Starkey, Nintendo is eyeing the addition of three more consoles to the service in the future. Xbox Era’s Nick Baker has claimed that Nintendo intends to introduce support for the Nintendo DS, Wii, and, more surprisingly, the Sega Mega-CD, known as the Sega CD in the United States.
This revelation came in response to earlier claims about a support page on Nintendo’s website referencing a Wii remote for the Switch 2, which has since been debunked as an error. Despite this, Baker shared a screenshot of Discord messages from earlier this month, where he asserted that Mega-CD, Nintendo DS, and Wii functionality is in the pipeline.
‘Yeah… that’s what I had been told,’ Baker wrote on X. ‘At least eventually. Not sure it’s anytime soon.’
Technical Challenges and Solutions
The addition of the Mega-CD is relatively straightforward from a technological standpoint, but it remains unclear how Nintendo plans to support Wii and DS titles if these claims hold true. Shpeshal Nick has suggested that Nintendo will support DS games ‘with an extra screen,’ a feature previously hinted at in patents, while the Wii will apparently come with ‘a new Wii Remote that doesn’t need the sensor bar.’
Given that the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons are equipped with gyroscopes and a mouse sensor, they are likely capable of supporting any Wii-specific controls. The inclusion of Wii and DS titles seems inevitable, as they are both iconic Nintendo consoles, but the Mega-CD addition is particularly intriguing.
The Legacy of the Sega Mega-CD
The Sega hardware add-on, launched in 1991 in Japan, is best remembered for titles like Sonic CD, Thunderhawk, and FMV games such as Night Trap and Microcosm, the latter developed by UK studio Psygnosis. Similar to the subsequent 32X, the Mega-CD was a commercial failure for Sega, leading the company to pivot to the Sega Saturn just three years later.
Sonic CD remains a notable entry in the franchise and is reportedly set to influence future installments in the movie series. If the Mega-CD does come to Nintendo Switch Online, it could spark hopes for other Sega consoles on the service, such as the Dreamcast and Saturn, though the Saturn is notoriously difficult to emulate due to its peculiar hardware.
Expanding the Gaming Library
With the launch of the Switch 2 last year, Nintendo already enhanced the service by adding GameCube games, complementing existing libraries from NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Mega Drive. Virtual Boy games are also scheduled to arrive later this month, further enriching the subscription’s value.
As Nintendo Switch Online continues to grow, these potential additions could solidify its position as a premier destination for retro gaming enthusiasts, offering a diverse array of classic titles across multiple generations of consoles.
