The Switch 2 Is Getting a New Virtual Console (Kind Of)

Why It Matters

The launch restores direct access to classic console games on modern hardware, filling a gap left by Nintendo’s shift to subscription‑based retro access. It also signals a broader industry trend toward licensing‑driven retro game storefronts.

Key Takeaways

• Hamster launches Console Archives for Switch 2
• First titles: Cool Boarders $12, Ninja Gaiden II $8
• Offers emulated classics with save states, button mapping
• Expands beyond Arcade Archives, targeting home console classics
• Provides games Nintendo no longer supports on Virtual Console

Pulse Analysis

The retro gaming market has surged as players seek nostalgia on current hardware, yet Nintendo’s move to a subscription‑only model left many classic titles inaccessible after the Wii and Wii U eShops closed. Third‑party publishers like Hamster Corporation are stepping into that void, leveraging their long‑standing Arcade Archive brand to deliver individual, downloadable classics that can be purchased on demand. This approach aligns with consumer preferences for ownership and flexibility, especially as the Switch 2’s hybrid design makes portable retro play especially appealing.

Console Archives debuts on the Switch 2 with two flagship titles—Cool Boarders for $12 and Ninja Gaiden II for $8—while promising a pipeline of obscure games such as Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special. Unlike full‑featured museum‑style remasters, Hamster’s offerings focus on faithful emulation paired with modern conveniences: customizable button layouts, screen scaling options, and instant save‑load functionality. By pricing each title modestly and avoiding a subscription barrier, Hamster positions itself as a convenient alternative for gamers who want selective access without recurring fees, potentially attracting both collectors and casual players.

The initiative carries broader implications for the industry. Hamster’s open call for licensing deals could accelerate the revival of titles that have languished due to rights complexities, while also pressuring Nintendo to reconsider its retro strategy. As more platforms—PlayStation 5, and eventually Xbox—receive similar releases, competition may drive down prices and improve feature sets. For developers and rights holders, Hamster’s model offers a low‑risk revenue stream, ensuring classic games reach new audiences and preserving gaming heritage for future generations.

The Switch 2 is getting a new Virtual Console (kind of)

By Kyle Orland · Senior Gaming Editor, Ars Technica · Published February 13, 2026

PS1 games on the Switch 2? In this economy?

Credit: Hamster Corp.

Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper.

In 2018, we lamented as Nintendo officially replaced the Virtual Console—its long‑running line of downloadable classic games on the Wii and Wii U—with time‑limited access to a set of games through a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Now, Hamster Corporation is doing what Nintendo no longer will by offering downloadable versions of retro console games for direct individual purchase on the Switch 2.

As part of today’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, Hamster announced a new Console Archives line of emulated classics available for download starting today on the Switch 2 and next week on the PlayStation 5 (sorry, Xbox and OG Switch fans). So far that lineup only includes the original PlayStation snowboarding title Cool Boarders for $12 and the NES action platformer Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos for $8, but Hamster promises more obscure games—including Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special—will be available in the future.

If the name Hamster Corporation sounds familiar, it’s because the company is behind the Arcade Archive series, which has repackaged individual arcade games for purchase and emulated play on modern consoles since 2014. That effort, which celebrated its 500th release in December, even includes some of Nintendo’s classic arcade titles, which the Switch‑maker never officially released on the original Virtual Console.

Now Hamster says it is expanding its efforts “with the concept of faithfully reproducing masterpieces released on various home game consoles, allowing players to easily enjoy them on the latest hardware.” While these new offerings are more bare‑bones than the full‑fledged interactive museums released by the likes of Digital Eclipse, they still include a few modern features, such as customizable button layouts, screen settings, and the ability to save and load at any time.

No, Hamster Corp., thank YOU! – Credit: Hamster

Hamster says on its website that it “would like to port and release as many games as possible,” practically begging “those of you who own the rights to the games, please let us release your games” by licensing or outright selling the rights.

“We believe it is very important to pass this on to future generations around the world, and to create an environment where anyone can play it anytime, anywhere,” Hamster writes. “Everyone has different memories of games. We aim to release as many titles as possible so that people can rediscover and play the games that evoke fond memories of the time they played them.”

Incidentally, Ninja Gaiden II was previously offered on the Wii Virtual Console back in 2007 and again on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2016. Both releases cost just $5 at the time, but the shutdown of Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U eShops means the game is no longer available for purchase on those defunct platforms. Thank goodness, then, that Hamster is offering an opportunity to purchase the game for the third time in as many decades on yet another new console. Fully portable ROMs of the game are just way too convenient to purchase, you know?