Virtual Boy
- Manufacturer
- Nintendo
- Production
- 1995–1996
- Generation
- Gen 5
- Type
- Home
- Region
- US
- Launch price
- $179
- Units sold
- 770.0K
About Virtual Boy
The Virtual Boy is a video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo and released in Japan on July 21, 1995, and in North America on August 14, 1995. Promoted as the first system capable of rendering stereoscopic 3D graphics, it featured a red monochrome display viewed through a binocular eyepiece, with games employing a parallax effect to simulate depth. The console struggled commercially, and its limited market performance led Nintendo to discontinue production and game development in 1996, following the release of only 22 games.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Library & collector facts
22licensed games
- North America: 14
- Japan: 19
Release timeline
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- July 21, 1995
- 🇺🇸 North America
- August 14, 1995
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- August 14, 1995
- Lifespan
- 1 years on market
Pricing
Launch price (1995)
- 🇺🇸 USD
- $179
Launch titles & exclusives
Mario's Tennis · Galactic Pinball · Red Alarm · Teleroboxer · Panic Bomber
Mario's Tennis
Virtual Boy Wario Land · Galactic Pinball · Red Alarm · Teleroboxer · Jack Bros. · Mario Clash · Nester's Funky Bowling · Vertical Force · 3-D Tetris
Jack Bros. (1995, NA — also notable as the first SMT/Megami Tensei game released in NA)
Virtual Lab (JP-only, ~$1000+ CIB); SD Gundam Dimension War (JP, ~$2000+ CIB); Space Squash (JP, ~$500+ CIB); Bound High (cancelled, prototypes exist)
Hardware specs
- Cpu
- NEC V810 @ 20 MHz
- Ram
- 64 KB work PSRAM, 128 KB graphics DRAM, 128 KB Video RAM
- Display Output
- 384×224
Hardware revisions
- Original Virtual Boy(1995)
only hardware revision Nintendo shipped
⚠ ribbon-cable solder joints on the displays famously fail with age, causing the well-known vertical lines defect
Launch colorways & special editions
- None official — the platform was discontinued less than a year after launch
Modding scene
- Difficulty
- hard-mod
- Custom firmware
- N/A (ROM-based); flashcarts: FlashBoy Plus
Reception & legacy
Poor — eye strain complaints, monochromatic red display, lack of true portability (tabletop stand required), high price; commercial failure within months
Reports of headaches, nausea, and eye strain damaged the brand; Gunpei Yokoi reportedly left Nintendo partly in fallout from the project's failure; only 22 commercial games released worldwide
Commercial disaster but a fascinating preserved-failure case study; precursor concept to modern VR; small collector base treats it as the ultimate Nintendo curio
References
More from Nintendo
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Virtual Boy in the news
Recent coverage mentioning the Virtual Boy, gathered from 80+ gaming-news sources.
Poll: Box Art Brawl: Yoshi (NES)
Eggcelent choice. Mlem. Howdy partners! Hop on board your nearest dinosaur, because it's time to set off on another edition of Box Art Brawl. Last time, we went virtual, as we took a look at Galactic Pinball for the Virtual Boy. There were just two options to choose between, and it wasn't even...
Five New Virtual Boy Games Added To Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
Five classic Virtual Boy games have been added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, including one extremely rare title.
More Virtual Boy Games Now Available on Switch and Switch 2
5 more Virtual Boy games are available via the Switch and Switch 2 NSO + Expansion Pack app worldwide, and Japan gets an extra title. The post More Virtual Boy Games Now Available on Switch and Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera.
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Nintendo Switch Online adds five more Classics for May
Nintendo has reached deep into its back catalogue and revealed the next set of Classic games coming to its Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription service. Which, this time around, it's a bit of a treat for Virtual Boy fans - as long as you've forked out for the company's big plastic headset,...
Nintendo Adds 5 New Virtual Boy Titles To Switch Online
🤝 Like our website? Support us as an independent publisher by tipping, joining our paid community or checking out our accessories brand GAMENOOK! Nintendo have announced 5 more Virtual Boy titles for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion pack users, meaning that we've now got 12 titles out of the
With its latest update, Nintendo has already added most of Virtual Boy’s game library to Switch Online
5 new titles are available on NSO today