The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a fully-operational Virtual Console yet, but dataminers have uncovered an NES emulator and NES game buried deep in the Switch firmware. This information comes from a console hacker on Twitter, by way of Nintendo Everything.
There is probably a hidden way to launch it from the Switch menu. Lmk if you find it :)
— plutoo (@qlutoo) September 16, 2017
The game, NES Golf, has apparently been hiding on every Switch since the console’s release. The game was listed under the file name “Flog” (Golf backwards.) While NES Golf can’t be launched through normal use of the Switch, it is possible to hack in to get the game running on the included emulator.
What’s really exciting about NES Golf on the Switch is how you can play it. The game supports one or two joy-cons, allowing you to play with a friend just like you could back on the NES. Additionally, players can use motion controls by holding the Z button on a joy-con.
So what could this mean for NES and SNES backwards compatibility on the Switch? Could we possibly see all sorts of classic games getting re-released for Nintendo’s latest console with added motion control support? This might not work for many games, but others like Duck Hunt, Rad Racer or just about any sports game would be great for motion controls.
This finding also raises the question of when the emulation software will be available. Nintendo confirmed there will be NES and SNES games on the Switch eventually, but hasn’t launched a Virtual Console service yet. This service will likely be released by the time the Switch’s online service has formally rolled out in 2018. Included in a subscription to the Nintendo online service will include access to classic games. It wouldn’t be a good look for Nintendo to start charging players for an online service when everything included in the fee isn’t offered. Expect to hear more as we get closer to the end of the year.
So what do you think? Do you wish Nintendo would make NES Golf playable on Switch since it’s just sitting there already? What other NES games would you like to play with motion controls? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
