Talking Point: Why Did Nintendo Give Up On Its 'Classic Edition' Concept So Soon?

I was so excited for a potential Gameboy and N64 classic, but Nintendo just... abandoned it. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.

Most likely Nintendo only sees the Classic Edition as advertising for the Nintendo Switch, and wants to put more effort into legacy content for that instead, because they can make more money that way

Also, failing to meet demand isn't new for Nintendo. Look at amiibo for example.

The only reason a company would ever "give up" on a product is if they made all the money they reasonably could from it. The popular idea that Nintendo could be rolling in Apple money if only they would do what fans insist are can't-lose avenues for unlimited profit is pure fantasy.

I think a Gameboy one could be doable, but I have always said they will never make an N64 mini for one reason: the controller. It was too big and to take advantage of what made the N64 special they would need 4 of them. There is no way to make that "mini."

The NES Classic was clearly intended as a stopgap, both for content for consumers and revenue for the company, after the Wii U was dead and before the Switch was ready. Now that they are experiencing success again it doesn't advance their goals, so they no longer offer it.

The reasoning in this article is pretty flawed as the emulator in the snes mini IS the switch snes games emulator.

Where's my Wii U Mini?

Mini consoles are fun, so of course I want more of them. I never got the original two, so I'd like to have those back in production too. And of course I want the same games on switch, handheld and home console.

I got the super Nintendo classic seen as I can just put both SNES & NES ROMs on it anyway

I'm sure plenty of us would buy an N64 or Gamecube Mini.

We'd buy it now, or in 5 years or in 10 years. Nintendo don't need our money right now, but if Switch sales start to lag, I can see them reviving the Classic Mini concept.

I think the logistics on the controllers after SNES are getting into the expensive range to reproduce. I would guess they didn't want to charge 150 for an N64 mini with 1 controller and 40 bucks for a second one.

I think these consoles were released solely to reintroduce nintendo to the broader market ahead of the switch. that's how poorly the wii u performed. they clearly want people playing their classic titles on switch(for better or worse), i can't imagine they'll release another one while the switch is hot. that said, I'm dyin for a gameboy classic. come on give it to me

I mean... are we completely forgetting that they just did the Game And Watch revival..? doesn't compare really to the other consoles, but given the circumstances of 2020 it didn't seem like the worst. I think assuming Nintendo has abandoned the "classic console" so soon is kind of bold of ya'll lol.

@Sahnec I hope that wasn't just an anniversary fluke, cause it could have been them testing the waters for a full gameboy classic.

Don’t think anyone wants to start making analogue sticks for this sort of thing

These were the gaming equivalent of the McRib and nothing more and it’s now informed how they handled Mario 35th and it’s death date that is to say they’ve increasingly investing in FOMO tactics.

Oh they will come back to the idea if they ever need the money. Nintendo isn't dumb just slow sometimes. I project we at least get some GB or GBA games sometime in the switch online service lifetime. But yeah n64 classic edition will come someday. Just plain dumb not to.

@Xyphon22

Think you hit the nail on the head. NES and SNES controllers are simple, moving forward with N64 and Gamecube it becomes a bit more complicated and more expensive and less a mini concept but just re-releasing old consoles.

Why did Nintendo remove 3D All-Stars from the eshop? Cause they are weird

I think the main issue was the next logical step was the N64, which was a legal minefield for most of the games you'd choose to release on it. If it's not games by Rare such as Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark or Diddy Kong Racing, then it's games with grey area licensing such as GoldenEye. Therefore Nintendo would have to purely rely on other titles such as Mario 64, Smash Bros and Wave Race. Which, while good games, wouldn't be considered a full package.

It's pretty clear the Classic Mini's existed to offset the cost of all those Wii U's sitting on shelves, the success of the Switch means it's not needed.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Mini Classic 64/Gameboy appear in the gap between third parties mainly supporting "next-gen" machines and the launch of Switch 2

Theres hardly any legacy games on the switch, would love a n64 mini and gameboy mini

I'd probably love a GameBoy Classic the most. That feeling is the hardest to replicate these days I feel.

I would happily invest in an N64, Gamecube, and even Wii Mini if Nintendo were ever to make them. As for why they stopped with the SNES Mini, it may be partially due to how quickly their mini consoles and those of other manufacturers were hacked to expand their libraries. But the biggest and most likely reason is that Nintendo feels that selling retro games individually is more profitable. They have a Draconian reputation for milking legacy games by releasing them on every succeeding console, with no backwards compatibility and at prices greater than 25-30 year-old games should really be worth.

There came so many into the Market that it oversaturated and Nintendo knows that.

It is a better Strategy to wait and than to throw it in when the Market "regenerated" a bit and they don't have anything else to release.
It will gain more attention and sell more.

@stinky_t it’s called the Switch Lite.

I would have probably skipped the N64 mini if such a thing was ever released as I already have easy access to the games I like on there (If it came with Diddy Kong Racing that may change my mind)

The one I was really interested in was a GameCube mini but that was mainly so that I could play Mario Sunshine. Now that I have a copy of 3D allstars I don't need that either

I’d prefer they just add new systems to Switch Online. However, I need the replica controllers to really enjoy them. Playing with NES/SNES controllers is awesome. I’d gladly pay for an N64 controller.

I would want gameboy games with the Switch Online service. I want N64 games with Switch Online but I think it’s too early for them to come out with Super Mario 64 being in Super Mario 3D all stars.

Who cares about more useless plastica stuff? Just port more classic games to the Switch!

Theory 1) Nintendo truelly didn't anticipate how fast people would hack those things, and how popular that became. As a way to no longer foster that behavior they stopped the classic consoles.

Theory 2) It's too costly, for one reason or another, to do an N64 classic or Gamecube classic. Controllers, larger game files, whatever.

Theory 3) they want to support classic titles on the Switch, and dont want people to have an alternative to their own service. I'd say this is the most likely theory....if they actually had decent support for classic games on Switch.

My crazy idea: Mini-consoles that also hook up to the e-shop where you can purchase more games. It's pretty much free money, satisfies the need for archiving, and discourages pirating, which are all things Nintendo likes.

You can have that for free, Nintendo. Give me a Gamecube mini with dedicated virtual console, and I will give you so much money.

I wonder if they're actually more sensitive about their legacy content than we realize. Like they are very anxious about how much the existence of how an ever-growing back catalogue of fondly remembered games undermines their upcoming releases.

Legacy content lets us see all the stuff that hasn't really evolved, or has gone backwards, or has been entirely neglected and ultimately it robs player hours from new £50 products. It makes sense that they want to try to control it to a certain extent.

a gameboy classic mini would be great.

My blunt opinion is that all these games can be played on loads of mainline consoles. Please let's not have more waste electronics destined for landfill.

@stinky_t It's already here. It's known by most people as a switch.

It’s worth noting that classic consoles fad has faded quite a bit

The Mini Snes and NES were great, but I don't really need more of them. They (Nintendo) should just focus on the Switch for now.

I would have loved a N64 Mini, but I seem to recall Nintendo saying they had made the classic mini consoles while we were waiting for the Switch. There is a lot of people that believes it will be released eventually, but I think they would've done it already if they were going to.

As for the N64 games on Switch Online, I think it's slightly more probable, but they're taking their time, so I start to believe it won't happen either.

If you ask me, I prefer a N64 Mini. This way we do own the games, there are some must-haves missing in my collection anyway, and all would come in a beautiful replica system.

The legal issues with games that would have been essential for a true N64 mini would have been too difficult to deal with; I very much doubt any of the Rare games would have been allowed by Microsoft (so no Banjo Kazooie, Banjo Tooie, Perfect Dark, Diddy Kong Racing, Conker’s Bad Fur Day) or with whoever owns the Goldeneye licence now means that it’s game list probably would have been anaemic.

On a practical basis, the controller is much bigger than the NES and SNES pads. Probably bigger than a mini N64 itself. Would it have been cost effective to sell them separately? How many people would buy 3 more to play 4 player? Plus I doubt a rumble pack would work.

Tbh, as much as I love the N64, does it have the same level of nostalgia for the masses that the NES, SNES and Mega Drive do? The PlayStation mini wasn’t very good (total swing and miss from Sony there, the effort put into the packaging and presentation shows how much more effort they could have put into the game selection and resolution of the games, which are stuck at 480p compared to the SEGA and Nintendo machines which do 720p) and the Turbografx mini is very niche. I think the same goes for the GameCube (as much as I’d love a selection of games running in at least 720p with save states).

There is one nostalgia pot still available them - GameBoy. A version with a good selection of games, a rechargeable battery and a back light would be really tempting for a lot of people. I think even if it was a black and white or green screen, with the right games (including at least one Pokemon game) it would probably appeal to quite a few people.

Where's the proof that they've given up?

I think the folks at Nintendo still don't consider Game Boy or N64 as retro. They only seem willing to cater to NES and SNES fans.

But even if that isn't the case, the N64 and Game Boy would both cost a good bit more to make classic systems for. Game Boy would need a screen and N64 would need better hardware and more expensive controllers.

It's also possible that with the shortage of superconductors and electronics components I general, they cannot secure enough supplies of parts.

One last thing; I’ve got a feeling that the NES and SNES mini were also to help keep the brand in the public eye during the fallow Wii U years. It really helped to remind a lot of people of Nintendo in its glory days and possibly helped with getting people into the Switch - ‘Hey, did you love the NES and SNES? You remember Nintendo from when you were young? Check this out! What? Wii U? Never heard of it!’

Because the pandemic came by and encouraged keeping the subsequently affected production lines to a more reliable profit than a bet on the nostalgia for the comparatively lower-selling N64 and GameCube?

I would love to see both N64 and Sega Saturn mini consoles, and some kind of portable mini from Nintendo too.

Considering the NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic Edition consoles sold nearly 8 million units combined (it works out around 500 million dollars), I think Nintendo is crazy if it just drops this idea going forward.

Totally agree with the controllers. A quality packin analog controller is probably more than the N wants to commit to on top of more powerful hardware to emulate the games and extra memory.

I just want Mario Kart 64.

i just want gba games on nso

They could give us a N64 mini and N64 online.... for switch. It’s not a either or situation.

Nintendon’t though.

I love Nintendo but I also hate them.

I love the mini consoles I have; even got the PlayStation Classic I have to an enjoyable state after some..."creative programming". I'm kind of a sucker for both the the novelty of having these mini legacy consoles on my game shelf along with the convenience of multiple classic games in one HDMI-enabled system on my TV so I'd be all for Nintendo revisiting the idea with the N64. Maybe even commission M2 to help if they don't feel like doing it all internally.

Nintendo still can't entirely keep up with demand for the Switch. There is no need to add a N64 or Gameboy Classic Mini to the production pipeline to further complicate their hardware manufacturing capabilities.

The NES Classic Mini didi a good job maintaining Nintendo's relevance during their transition from Wii U to Switch, so I suspect a N64 Classic Mini will be released right before the launch of the Switch 2 for that same reason (even though Nintendo's brand appeal is at a near all-time high ATM with Switch).

Yes I would be interested but realistically, as far as Nintendo home consoles go we could only really get an N64 classic at a relatively reasonable price point. I wouldn't be particularly interested in a Gameboy Classic but I would definitely be interested in a GBA classic which should be relatively easy to produce.

@impurekind my guess it'll come in waves and not the last we ever see of this concept. Also think pandemic needs to slow its roll before it would reignite. Just my uneducated/ uninformed thoughts

@westman98 There is for those people who don't want something as convoluted as a Switch and long for simpler times where they could/can buy a console and its games and own everything outright for as long as they see fit, and do with them whatever they want in terms of reselling and giving to siblings and even hacking and so on, and also not have to worry about any user accounts and online accounts and EULAs or really any of that kind of crap, and are simply looking for the next in the Classic Edition console range.

I don't even like with Mini machines for 2 reasons:
1. The machine cannot even play actual cartridge / disc.
2. The machine bundled with the games i really hate most.

It was a wasted product in my opinion.

Problems with N64 Classic Edition:

1. The controller would be too expensive, and the system would have to come with more than one (as the N64 has many great multiplayer games). They would also need to make the control stick more sturdy without compromising the authenticity.

2. The N64 was never nearly as popular as the NES or Super NES (it lost very badly to the PS1), and conventional wisdom says that the library didn’t age as well (though still better than the PS1’s, obviously).

3. Getting the Rare licences would be complicated, and the system wouldn’t be complete without them.

None of these are insurmountable, but taken together they make the N64 mini pretty unlikely.

@Anti-Matter Me personally, it's the best console I've bought in the last decade (ignoring my VR headsets for a moment, which have just been a revelation).

Once I hacked my SNES Classic edition and added in a whole bunch more games (I'm at around 180 currently, from all kinds of platforms: SNES, Genesis, NES, Master System, PC Engine, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, MAME and Neo Geo), alongside a patch to let me return to the main menu with a simple button combo, plus bought a couple of controller cable extension cables, I've never looked back.

My SNES Classic Edition has, by far, been the most simple and pure and fun and satisfying console experience I've had in generations.

@impurekind
I don't think the audience of people who think the Switch is too complicated is all that big, especially when virtually everyone owns a smartphone or other similar smart device.

@westman98 I agree with that for the large part, but there are now nearly 8 million people that bought either a NES Classic Edition or SNES Classic Edition, so there's definitely a market for those consoles, for whatever reasons, even if they're not quite the same as mine.

I don't need one. Sure, it is a cute idea, but if I can play it on the Switch, no need for such a thing.

@impurekind
I don't even want to hack video game machines to play with pirated games.
Not interested at all.
I choose actual video game machines that play the games in cartridge / disc just the way it is.

@Anti-Matter Each to their own. For me, it was the best thing I've done in ages. And no Virtual Console or Switch Online or PC emulation has captured that nostalgic feeling of playing these beloved games on classic retro systems anywhere near as well as playing on my SNES Mini has.

I get that the N64 and GameCube become a little more difficult to emulate. But why produce such limited supplies of the classic editions? And why not sell the nes/snes controllers for the switch in retail stores?

No. While they're cute things to have, they're also the height of inconvenience, I'd prefer all my games to be at one place.

They'd need to bring back a proper virtual console service where people can actually buy the games and maybe have a rotating catalogue or something for the online service thing.

It's such a shame both Nintendo and Sony dropped the idea of just having classic games purchasable for the later consoles, it was such a nice thing to have.

@impurekind
Oh I don't deny that. I'm sure a N64 Classic Mini will sell well, but that's not the priority right now with Switch still experiencing regular sellouts and the Switch Pro scheduled to launch within the next 12 months.

What they really should have done is made them online.
Create one store system linked to the switch where you can buy/add games to the mini consoles. That way you continue to monetize, and also people can play on switch too. Would have been a great little money maker if they'd thought about it

Just like with the VR stuff (sighs, so much for Labo VR Pro...), Nintendo forgets it almost immediately after a short while. I don't get them...

@Mountain_Man,

Always the same, a few niche fans on minority gaming sites seem to think things will be insanely popular, just because they like them personally.

These products will always have a limited appeal, which is why Nintendo limit their production.

I have the SNES Classic, but it just collects dust now and isn't even hooked up. I'd rather see Nintendo put more classic games on the Switch somehow. The online services, or a true Virtual Console, whatever. That's my personal opinion, but from a practical, logical perspective, it does seem odd to give up on a clearly successful concept such as the mini consoles. There's obviously a hole in the market, and I've said over and over to people that just because games are old doesn't mean they lose value. It's a shame that so many great games from the past are just destined to be forgotten.

There are no N64 games for Switch Online Subscribers. I'm still convinced the N64 Mini will be made eventually.

I would love a GB/GBC with a handfull of games preprogrammed on it.

But we already do have minis of other Consoles like GameCube and N64; you just need to pay a hacker on eBay/Etsy to access them 😂

Sometimes I wonder if they hate making money myself. I'd like to see it come back, but not the crappy sales tactic with it.

It is odd.

N loves nothing more than to sell and re-sell the same games multiple times so you'd think they'd keep bringing out the minis then the games on Switch for that double/triple/quadruple dipping.

It's probably more so that N just has some very short-sighted terrible management. I'm not sure which side of the Pacific the issue is. I'd wager Japan since Sony seems to also do a bunch of dumb stuff.

Then again IIRC Sega of America was the bad one for them so it's hard to tell which side is the awful side. Of course why not both could also be the answer.

It’s obviously not a priority. As suggested in the write-up, and like any other company, they would probably point to existing drivers of their business, and I greatly doubt official company discussion goes much deeper than that about their back catalogue of hardware and software. They are masters at selling nostalgia, but in that 1:1 sense with their history, it’s not in their cards. Because their answer as to why not is probably not a very complicated one, I think it leaves the discussion up to articles like this, that highlight what Nintendo can do for their fans. They might not budge, but I suspect it’s not because they have a great reason for not doing so, and some things could give in the future.

@electrolite77 I think you've hit the nail on the head with the Wii Classic suggestion. It was a much bigger console than 64 or GameCube, and would have a clear appeal to mass nostalgia.

Also pricing is important - nothing at the price level of the NES and SNES Classics is going to come out in the next few years thanks to component shortages. Even when you can get supplies (as Nintendo obviously are for the oncoming Switch Plus), you'd need to pay a premium. The bill of materials plus decent profit margin wouldn't add up for a sub £/$100 product.

@stinky_t : I would love a Switch Micro, though I wouldn't play any game with a lot of text on it.

I kind of imagined that these SNES and NES Classic's were all repurposed Wii's that they had had left over that were unsold and so eventually it wouldn't much sense to continue. Those systems were easy, but the Gameboy and GBA didn't really have good multiplayer that would work on a TV, so it's not really a party console anymore to chill with friends, plus the games aren't designed for TVs and some of them are going to look pretty ugly stretched out to modern TV sizes, and the N64 has a funky controller (which should include rumble) that's probably too expensive to produce as cheap as the NES and SNES.

Besides, it makes more sense to sell that stuff on the Switch I think. I'm sure they realized that after a few years our living rooms would be crowded with micro-consoles and when we're out of space and wall outlets and HDMI inputs, it will be a real problem. And putting all those out on Switch is a good incentive to get a Switch and join the online program.

I’d rather that sega gave us a Saturn mini and a Dreamcast mini than pin hopes on Nintendo releasing a mini or even put N64 titles on the switch online service

It's funny to see everyone's logic not stretch much further than the ocd of a collector. 'I need classic versions of all their consoles for a full set!'. If you think about it, there are loads of reasons why we aren't getting an N64 classic. It's more popular now because folk can't have it than it ever was when it was a home console haha! Most probably owned a PS1, but if you did own an N64, the pad alone makes you wonder why they would do it. It wasn't the most durable. Unlike the SNES and NES. Even SONY stuck with digital pads for their awful PS1 classic. Anyhoo, N64 games will add value to NSO eventually. Switch still has a very long life ahead of it.

I wished they’d make a mini console with mini cartridges we could buy. I mean think of the cash they’d make selling games separately as well...

The Game & Watch Super Mario Bros was kind of a "Classic Edition" release, but with fewer games than it should have had (Super Mario Bros 2, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2, Mario's Cement Factory and G&W Super Mario Bros were no-brainers that should have been included).

I love the mini consoles. Great price and great library of games. I love the Snes mini especially. I have the wireless controllers for the nes and snes mini

I voted both, however the current semiconductor shortage means classic consoles are definitely on the back seat to primary hardware. So Ninty best get cracking with VC then .

@Lord

I'd like to see a Sega 'mega mini' with saturn and dreamcast all in 1.

I’d rather they leverage the Switch. The mini consoles are a nice novelty item that are good for nostalgia, impulse, collector and scalper purchases. However there isn’t a major ROI. This isn’t like their toys that they license to other companies and take their big cut. They have to stay in control because these items house their most valuable product; their games. So that means a manufacturing line that could be used for the Switch or amiibo or game cartridges. Also since the minis are plug and play their value has a low saturation point. The nostalgic people are only gonna buy so many of them and regular gamers have access to cheaper, easier solutions for access to these games. So it leaves the collectors and the scalpers after a point. That isn’t really money for the company so much as it is for the secondhand market. Much of which made bank one these things that Nintendo then has to spend litigation fighting.

It served its purpose which was got the brand on people’s minds while they got the switch on stable ground. Same with the recent game and watch. These things are meant to be flash pan marketing. Not an actual sales arm. Don’t get me wrong I still want a n64 version but I won’t be bothered if they don’t make one.

@Yosher

What i dream of would be one that has integrated games AND can play original Cartdriges ^^

@Azuris Now that would be amazing.

Add a feature that allows you to play it on television as well, just like the Super Game Boy back in the day, and you've got the best possible outcome right there. (They could replace the link cable slot with an HDMI slot for that I think, while actual multiplayer linking would just be wireless.)

@impurekind,

That's the major problem with these mini consoles, they are just so easy to hack, so Nintendo gets it's initial price but nothing else, they are much better tying their legacy content to an ongoing subscription service, which the user base just grows and grows.

I mean, they let us know from the get go that these were temporary things just for funsies. So I don't expect anything else moving forward. That being said, as a Game Boy enthusiast, I would absolutely lose my **** if they did announce a Game Boy Classic Edition. That would be just about the only thing I would actively try to hunt down and curse at the scalpers over.

@acNewUpdates Failure to meet demand has always been nintendo...the Gamecube released...memory cards were impossible to find...then came the Wii with the console itself. Nintendo was never the best at these things, but would always continue to make useless mechanics for their systems, then give up on them way too early with only one or a few games made for it...think the NES Zapper, The Super Scope, The balance Board and more. Nintendo has very fun and intuitive ideas, they just give up on them too quickly, even when they are hits. Sony seems to do this a lot too (playstation TV, Move, Vita and even what seems like the VR at the moment). It seems that all the companies want you to get the products, they do get the money, but then it's like...make a new one, hope that same amount of people get it. Hmm...this happened to Sega, not saying that Nintendo or Sony are going anywhere anytime soon.

An N64 Classic is very much needed.

GBA Classic with a DSiXL sized screen for those of us who can’t see small screens anymore.

Q: Does Nintendo Hate Making Money?

A: Yes.

@Aurumonado You need to take a look at their decades long business history... they know how to make money.

We got the NES classic because they needed a stopgap between consoles and a quick boost in sales after the Wii U. So if we want the N64 Classic, people have to stop buying Switches. Seriously though, you have to stop thinking about them as games and cut out your nostalgia. These are just faceless products to Nintendo, they stopped the classic line for the same reason you sell your stocks when they're high. They made a tidy profit with minimal risk when they didn't have a money printing main line. Continuing the Classic line risks oversaturation and self competition. I'd like it to continue too, but from a business standpoint it makes more sense to put all resources with the sure bet of the Switch.

The N64 mini was the one I was truly excited for…
That being said I think the biggest missed opportunity with these minis was making them so closed off. I thought it would’ve been absolutely brilliant if they connected to the internet and had a store where you could buy more games. I’m sure this would open the door to jailbreaks and hacks but those happened anyway. But if they made these into physical Virtual Consoles!? With original aesthetics, original controllers sign me up baby! I would’ve spent double the amount by buying games that they’d already ported to Wii and Wii U.
Edit: I know their online service provides the classic games and you can buy the controllers but they haven’t ported all of the games that were on the Mini Consoles and certainly not the ones that they’d ported to the Virtual Console and that’s what I find most frustrating.

@ecco6t9 because that would be the demographic for the GBA classic lol

@acNewUpdates Unfortunately legacy content for the Switch comes in at a snail's pace. We go literally months before a handful of NES/SNES titles appear on NSO, and anything post-SNES will once in a while get a port.

Hate greedy companies!!! what's wrong with this company, don't they like money?!! Guess we will never find a middle ground here as gamers, lol =XD

Must be hard for gaming websites at the moment, and that includes nintendo life, as microsoft, sony and nintendo cant be bothered releasing any more triple A games for their consoles.
Websites obviously dont have many games to write articles on (apart from mainly indie games)
Imagine nintendo releasing an n64 mini, giving us a release date for metroid 4 & botw 2, a trailer reveal for a new mario odyssey, or dare i say, galaxy game!
I can only dream at the moment, game industry is dead at the moment.

I was lucky to have been able to pick up both the mini NES and SNES, got mainly for nostalgic reasons and as great as a mini gamecube or N64 sound I rather they update they're Nintendo online library In my opinion =:3

Emulating the N64 isn't easy, I doubt they would be able to manufacture a low-cost board that could run it properly. Not to mention recreating the controller would be crazy hard, do you add rumble inside or have people use their old paks? Then there is the whole library issue, do you just include 1st party or try and get Rareware titles as well?

To put it simply, N64 classic edition is just way too complicated and expensive to worry about

They’d rather focus on getting their legacy content on switch?? What at the rate of 4-5 games every 3 months?? I’d buy that answer if the Switch online was flooded with them but it’s not! And STILL 4 years in we’re limited to only Nes and Snes games!! Cmon people that’s terrible! The Wii had N64 games for Pete’s sake 😡
Good thing I have 4 of each classic consoles and 3 modded and loaded with 7000+ classic games from a variety of classic systems ☺️

I LOVE my mini classics! My precious. A lot of games truly shine when using the original controller. Being able to save anywhere is a game (!) changer. Also, hackable, so I’ve got GBA and Mega Drive games on mine too.

I’m gonna summon my inner business-person and yell “they’re leaving money on the table!” while slapping the table in unison with one hand and jerking my head forward affirmatively.

I wouldn't say they gave up - I'd say they completed the project successfully and ended it at the right point.

N64 wouldn't have the same mainstream appeal. These mini consoles are best suited to endcaps, where they would be noticed and picked up by everyone - not just people who play a lot of games. SNES and NES were absolute icons of gaming - that can't be overstated - they were absolutely beloved. By comparison, N64 is barely a footnote. Even amongst fans, it's not as iconic (even if it is well loved). PlayStation won that era. N64 was almost niche.

For me personally, it would be a struggle to find enough good games to make it a compelling purchase. It's just a personal opinion but there are a few great N64 games, but only a few. Maybe if they included the Japanese only Goemon games, it would appeal to me (but again, that wouldn't give it much mainstream appeal).

Gameboy would make more sense. It is also a titan, like NES and SNES. But, to do it right, at a comfortable size, with a good screen, battery etc. it may get too expensive to be worth producing.

I blame lack of quality software and the chip shortage on this one. If the electronics companies were to offer up a Silicon buyback program where you could trade in old electronics for cash, just to.slow down the shortage, it might help.

I doubt they will ever do an N64 one because (1) N64 emulation being more difficult and resource intensive and (2) Rare games.

I’d love to so see a GBC and GBA “classic”. Seems like they are more likely to save this concept for when sales of their current console aren’t great and they need to tap into nostalgia to draw people back and get them thinking about Nintendo again.

Also given there is a lot of news about the semiconductor shortage it may not make sense to produce an extra hardware product right now if the ICs they’d need for it would be hard to come by.

Nintendo seems to be of the mindset that after the SNES, all the rest of their home consoles were failures. While that isn't completely wrong in a sense sans Wii and Switch, it robs loyal fans of the chance to legally play these games if that's what they choose.

At the same time, the mini console phase I think has fizzled out. I have four of them (NES, SNES, Genesis, TG-16) and they are fun, but honestly, after playing them for a few days, I bundled them and put them on the shelf. I'd rather just have a way to play older games on my Switch outside of the anemic Switch Online service that hasn't been updated in months (outside of Pacman 99).

I'd rather have a classic mini because for some crazy reason Nintendo doesn't want to sell Retro games on Switch and I don't want to rent old games via a subscription.

I don't want any more classic editions.

I don't want a subscription paywall.

I just want the Virtual Console.

If Nintendo wants to do those other things too, go crazy! I'm all for options for those who prefer to pay a monthly fee or to own a physical device. But just give us the option to pay for those games individually, at a reasonable price, like God intended!

I think there was a parts shortage because of covid

@Mountain_Man The only reason a company would ever "give up" on a product is if they made all the money they reasonably could from it.

...or because they can't manufacture enough of multiple products.

I'm pretty sure the NES classic and the SNES classic existed because the original consoles were unforgettable high points in Nintendo's history. Though there were notable points in the N64's and GameCube's life, they pale in comparison to the NES and SNES. Nothing is impossible but I won't hold my breath for mini versions of these consoles. Considering the success of the Gameboy I can see them likely doing a "mini" version. We'll see.

I think a lot of it has to do with the controllers. NES and SNES as well as pretty much every other mini console released so far have been simple button and d-pad controllers. No analog, no rumble. Even the PlayStation mini opted for the original pre-Dual Shock design. Analog controllers are more expensive to produce so it cuts into their potential profits.

There's also the fact that nowhere near the amount of people owned an N64 as owned an NES or SNES so there's already less of a nostalgia market, especially when you consider how much 3 extra controllers would cost.

I'd bet if they ever do a future "mini-console" it'll just be a re-release of the original GameBoy, GBC or GBA with pre-loaded games. Totally self-contained, higher quality screens, no extra controllers to buy.

Costs to produce the controllers is another issue. Many classic N64 games are 4-player, so you'd need at least two controllers in the box, and hope consumers buy extras, and all this increases the overall price. Perhaps if releasing a generic GC-style controller would be the option, which could be used for the N64 Mini and GC Mini.

There's also game rights, which are more an issue with the Switch out. Why would Konami (for example) put their games on a generic Nintendo Mini now when they can release them on the Switch themselves and have full control?

Let's not forget the fad factor. These things were exciting at the start due to nostalgia. In reality, nostalgia wears off quickly and many of us probably didn't play them that much after the initial excitement phase.

For me, those last two points eradicate almost totally the need for future minis. I'd much rather retro games be on the Switch anyway, and I can pick and choose those games I want.

People really overestimate just how successful those consoles were, how much money Nintendo spent on making them, and what their ROI was. If they didn't continue the line, it's obviously because it wasn't making them as much money and they anticipated. Trust and believe, if the things were selling like Animal Crossing, we would be at the NGC classic right now.

NES classic was created as a quick solution for an abysmal 2016 Holidays. They just didn't expect it would be THAT succesful. SNES Classic was just a way to keep the trend coming while Switch was adapting to the market.

Switch is succesful. And SNES classic sold a bit less than NES classic...so there was no point to keep doing this.

Besides, N64 mini?! what are you gonna add in there? N64 wasn't as succesful or popular as NES and SNES. Game Boy, maybe. But Again, with Switch on the market, there's no need for a "in case of emergency" product anymore.

Nintendo uses their classic games to improve poor sales, to apease customers or launch something. They did it with the Wii VC after the failure of the Game Cube, they did with the Ambassador program on the 3DS and they did with the Nintendo Online service.

They should sell classic console game packs digitally on eshop. Really surprised they haven't. Seem slike a slam dunk.

@NikHogan I'm only interested in an N64 classic if all the games have 1080p/60fps options. 3D games should be improved, not released as is. I think Nintendo stopped the minis because they finished the 2D consoles which were easy. They also probably needed the money before the Switch took off. A 1080p/60fps widescreen emulation of 15 n64 games would make a lot of sense, then bring that emulator to Switch afterwards. I'd pay $150 for it.

I have zero interest if they don't improve the games. n64 emulators on PC do.

I think what happened, and im only guessing. But i think Nintendo intended to put a lot of those games on the NSO, but then Nintendo saw how badly received NSO has been and has probably halted additional consoles until they figure something out.

I think Nintendo were hoping that if they throw enough free SNES games at it, people would start to see the benefit but that didn't happen.

So in short they abandoned the classic consoles to not take away anything from NSO but NSO turned out to be a bit unpopular so knowing Nintendo, they've probably gone back to the drawing board and gonna try something else.

Not realising that actually putting on the N64/GC games will actually make NSO a lot more popular, but Nintendo won't see it that way.

This type of experimenting from Nintendo is driving me nuts. Many Nintendo products have a lot of potential, but Nintendo just keeps abandoning them for sub-par alternatives, or even no alternatives at all from Nintendo. I had a spark of hope when Nintendo brought in Labo VR. Unfortunately, it was cast off as a side project that did little to try to succeed the Virtual Boy.

Nintendo said the NES classic was limited, sold out, then months later made more. I'm assuming both NES and SNES classics are sold out or hard to find, meaning they are no longer being produced. I don't understand this. Surely they are not expensive to make.

Give me gameboy advance xl, n64 mini, gamecube mini, and most of all, the ability to play your own games on the new devices!

How hard, I wonder, would it be for Nintendo to take the 2DS hardware (which sold for $99) put it in a GBA-like shell, transfer in 20 GBA games, change the interface a bit to make it on-brand, and boom instant GBA Classic. Sell it for $50 to $60 anything more would be excessive.

Realistically the 2DS approach wouldn't work if Nintendo wanted to include stuff like restore points and rewind/ff. But they'd effectively skip the whole "create an emulator from scratch" step.

I am guessing that the pandemic has something to do with it. Shortage of parts or staff being the most likely obstacles.

@stinky_t I remember after the NES Classic launched, one of the many parody videos was, I think by Mega64, where they said they got a Wii U Mini, that was really just a Wii U with a bunch of preloaded games.

Shocking how the scalper market quickly bought out the remaining Wii U supply after its discontinuation and raised its price.
To think suddenly people that didn't want to buy the console at its retail price in the four years on the market, would want to shortly after pay $800+ or whatever was being asked.

@electrolite77 Oh yeah, the PS1 Classic could've been good if it wasn't just slapped together (I heard the Japanese version had a bit better selected lineup). But how do you put Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, let alone the PAL version, on there, and not paying whatever Activision wants to get a Crash or Spyro game on it?

That Capcom arcade stick was just simply too expensive. I get they were going for a hardcore crowd, but they really should've offered a cheaper version, even if going with a bit more standard and far cheaper controllers. (that is assuming that at least the controllers were of arcade-quality to justify the price. Don't recall if I heard if they were. Hope that $200 wasn't just the cost of paying off the Alien vs. Predator license. )

@Razer The impression I get of NSO was people whining "I haven't heard of half these games so they obviously suck! Give me more games I've heard of and probably already have on other consoles! Wah!"

@electrolite77

Yep, i think especially the Playstation had such a bad Reputation that it damaged the Market as a Finish Him Move (as Addition to the Saturation).
But no wonder it wasn't as great as it could be, with the Opinion from Uppers as Ryan about old Games, it was truly just made with minimal effort to participate from the Hype.

But i am pretty sure, when Time passes there will be the Oportunity to bring another Mini out and have a big Succes.

@Yosher

Oh that would be more than a extra Mile, that would be a true Love Letter to the Gameboy.
Really great idea.

I voted "don't care". While I did like the mini consoles as a concept, and I did want the NES one initially, I thought Nintendo could have done better in the execution. But I remember the poor way Nintendo handled the distribution an then lied about availability later on. I lost interest after that. With that said, I'd have no interest in an N64 mini and I think it would be too difficult for the reasons others have provided such as the complex controller. If Nintendo was to continue system revivals, GB/GBC and GBA are ones that probably would be reasonable to do and would interest me somewhat.

Nintendo needed money during the Wii U days, so they made these. The Switch is printing money for Nintendo so they don't need to do any more. Simples.

I'm still convinced Nintendo's relationship with Microsoft will allow goldeneye on N64 mini

For the same reason we won't have a Sega Saturn mini or a PS2 mini. The emulation is not good enough for commercial purpose and would need a hardware way too expensive to make compared to the sale price. It's hard to make margin on hardware when you're not named Apple.

I'd love for an N64 classic. I don't care what games it has as it'll get hacked anyway.

I think people are misunderstanding what goes in to and comes out of projects like these, if they think Nintendo would be making any substantial amount of money on keeping them in production.

@johnvboy Trust me, Nintendo has made a very healthy profit on these Classic Editions even with some people hacking them to add some more games, most of which Nintendo isn't selling anywhere else anyway, so it's not like it's going to lose additional sales of most of those games either way.

@impurekind,

By the same token if Nintendo feel they can spin a healthy profit long term from these classic consoles I am sure it would continue them, my bet is this business model is better suited to limited run items.

@stinky_t That's basically the Switch 😊

I'm more bothered with the lack of retro support for the Switch. I would take N64 and GB games on that system any day over a dedicated classic console.

I would rather have Nintendo focus on bringing Virtual Console to Switch.

Can we get an "I have faith that whatever happens will be good" option? I mean, it's not that I don't care either way, but between this story and the one about cardboard regrets, I'm starting to see that my fears about the correlation between obsessively collecting physical carts, a growing gaming backlog and not getting out enough may not be all that relevant. Actually, thanks for the perspective.

I'd love to buy the N64 Classic.

I never bought the NES or SNES classic because those games were already easily emulated on the Wii, and around the time they came out, the Wii was still basically the major Nintendo console (and I was still using it), so I had no reason to get them.

Now that the Wii era has passed and the shop has been shut down, ironically now is the time I'd like to buy a classic console! But alas, they're not in production anymore...

If anything, the N64 and Gamecube are the consoles that make the most sense to release in classic editions, because they're the most dependent on having the unique controller for the full experience, whereas the Wii controller was a fine substitute for the NES controller.

This whole thing is a case of bad timing and missed opportunity.

@DK-Fan There are millions of people who would buy the N64 classic. And the SNES sold nearly as much as the NES classic did. I think it's more than just a tactic to make up for lost sales.

Most likely explanation is they're just waiting. The longer they wait, the more nostalgia grows.

@MeloMan NES and SNES were very high points but I think Nintendo's true peaks came long after.

N64 was Nintendo's high point for critical acclaim and the Wii was their commercial peak.

@JimmySpades i think you've nailed it, I didn't buy a Wii u because it looked like ass and I had a 2ds so I couldn't play earthbound and in a way, I still got to take advantage of the virtual console, unlike the switch, the Wii u sold very poorly and the mini consoles allowed for a new audience to be reached for the switch which was just coming over the horizon