Nintendo is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Pokémon franchise with a nostalgic twist: a retro Game Boy reimagined as a functional jukebox. The announcement comes as the company commemorates the February 27th, 1996, release of Pokémon Red and Blue versions for the original Game Boy.
Since its debut with 151 unique creatures, the Pokémon universe has expanded to include a total of 1024 Pokémon as of today. The release of the Game Boy jukebox is part of a broader celebration of the franchise’s legacy, tapping into the growing trend of retro gaming and collectible tech.
The device allows fans to relive the early days of Pokémon through authentic soundscapes. Nintendo presented the Game Boy Jukebox, featuring 45 modules that enable longtime Poké-Trainers to musically revisit their childhood. Pokémon sound designer Junichi Masuda explained, “We put a lot of effort into making the audio sound exactly like the original Game Boy.”
Limited Availability
The Game Boy jukebox functions solely as a music player; the buttons and screen are purely decorative and do not operate. Each module is adorned with a screenshot from the corresponding game, creating the illusion of the image being displayed on the screen when inserted. The device requires three LR44 button cell batteries to operate.
The retro device is priced at $69.99 (approximately 60 Euros) and will be available exclusively in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. According to Nintendo, the jukebox will not be available in Germany, Australia, or New Zealand, and delivery to Austria is likewise unlikely.
