Nintendo 64 Getting New Nintendo Switch Online Features – But There’s a Sneaky Catch

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers who have the Expansion Pack can enjoy several classic Nintendo 64 games on the Switch. The Nintendo 64 games on Nintendo Switch Online are about to get some new features that are sure to please fans. However, there’s a catch.

Nintendo Switch Online’s New Nintendo 64 Features

Nintendo shared a video today that showcased the three new features that will be coming on June 5th.

• First, players will finally be able to rewind Nintendo 64 games. The rewind feature has been available for every other Nintendo Switch Online retro console, so it always seemed strange that the Nintendo 64 didn’t have it.
• The second feature is the ability to apply a CRT filter to recreate the look of an old-school TV. Again, this feature has been available for other Nintendo Switch Online systems, so it seems strange that it took so long for the Nintendo 64 to get it.
• Finally, players will be able to view the controls and map the buttons as they see fit. Since different people have different play styles, this could be helpful.

So What’s the Catch?

The only one of these features coming to the original Switch is the ability to view and change controls. For rewinding and CRT filters, you need to buy the Nintendo Switch 2. As people have been quick to point out, this feels like yet another greedy move on Nintendo’s part. While I’m not an expert on what the Switch 1 hardware can and can’t do, it seems like rewinding and CRT filters shouldn’t be too hard to implement on the Switch 1, especially since other Nintendo Switch Online systems have had those features for years.

Conclusion

The Switch 2’s $500 price tag has made plenty of gamers angry, and this might make them angrier still, since it feels like Nintendo is deliberately withholding features from Switch 1 players. People are preordering the Switch 2 in large numbers, but Nintendo might want to be careful. If they keep mistreating players who are choosing not to get the Switch 2, they might alienate their fanbase. Giving Switch 1 players a little gift of rewinding and adding CRT filters to Nintendo 64 games might have helped soothe their anger over the Switch 2’s price, but instead, Nintendo chose once again to be sneaky.