Nintendo is offering a surprising second life to a discontinued product.Owners of the 2019 Nintendo Labo VR kit will be able to use the cardboard accessory with the upcoming release of Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch Online February 17th. while Nintendo isn’t actively promoting the compatibility due to the Labo VR kit being out of production, the company confirmed to GamesBeat that the viewer will function with the classic games – but only on the original Nintendo Switch model due to screen size limitations.
Owners of the now-discontinued Nintendo Labo VR kit have a reason to revisit the cardboard accessory. Nintendo has confirmed the headset will be compatible with the upcoming Virtual Boy games arriving on Nintendo Switch Online on February 17th.
The compatibility announcement came during a press event in New York, where Corey Olcsvary of Nintendo Treehouse revealed to GamesBeat that the Labo VR viewer will function seamlessly with the Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics game library. However, there’s a key limitation: the Labo VR headset will only work with the original Nintendo Switch model. The screen on the newer Switch console is too large to fit within the cardboard viewer’s frame.
Nintendo opted not to officially announce the compatibility due to the Labo VR kit being discontinued. The company reasoned that promoting compatibility for a product no longer in production wouldn’t be practical. However, for those who still own the kit, it offers a cost-effective alternative to the official Virtual Boy accessories, which retail for €79.99 (premium model) and €19.99 (cardboard version).
Launched in 2019, Nintendo Labo VR was a unique build-it-yourself cardboard kit that enabled virtual reality experiences on the Switch. Several titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, received dedicated modes compatible with the viewer. Now, the kit can be repurposed to enjoy the Virtual Boy library, including its two previously unreleased games.
This move demonstrates Nintendo’s continued support for its existing hardware and software, even after products have been officially retired. The ability to repurpose the Labo VR kit highlights the potential for extending the lifespan of gaming accessories and offering value to consumers.
