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Retro Gamers Rejoice: The Nintendo Virtual Boy Is Now Available for Preorder

Nintendo is bringing back this classic console as a Switch accessory in early 2026.

Headshot of Max McHone
Headshot of Max McHone
Max McHone Contributor
Max is a freelance writer on CNET's commerce team with a passion for film, TV, gaming and all things pop culture. When he's not covering the latest tech, he can usually be found backpacking the world, training in martial arts or watching way too many movies at home.
Max McHone
The red box for the Nintendo Virtual Boy against a green and red gradient CNET background.
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Virtual reality may be the future of gaming, but stereoscopic 3D is its past. And with the Nintendo Virtual Boy, it looks like everything old is new again. Nintendo is re-releasing this 1995 portable tabletop console as an accessory for the Switch in February, and preorders just went live this morning.

The new Virtual Boy sells for $100, and is set to hit shelves on Feb. 17. It's a replica of the original system, and allows you to play classic games like Teleroboxer and Galactic Pinball. Plus, it's compatible with both the original Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2, but you will need an active Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack membership to access most games. Note that you'll also need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership to place your preorder.

If you're curious about this unique piece of gaming history, but don't want to spend $100 just to check it out, Nintendo also has an official cardboard version that's available for just $25.

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Why this preorder matters

While the original Nintendo Virtual Boy was a commercial disaster, this new accessory is likely to be a big hit with retro gamers. Nintendo hardware often sells out quickly, so if you're serious about getting your hands on one of these, we'd recommend preordering rather than waiting until after the release.