Nintendo Leak Reveals Huge Switch Online Expansion

Back in September 2021, a rumor circulated that several Game Boy games were on their way to Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo has yet to announce any Game Boy titles for the subscription; however, the official Nintendo Game Boy Advance emulator appears to have leaked, as shared by Twitter user @trashbandatcoot. The data apparently came from an actual Nintendo Switch. According to VGC, NERD (Nintendo European Research & Development) seems to have helmed the emulator's development. Headquartered in Paris, France, NERD has handled emulation for previous Nintendo releases, such as the version of "Super Mario Sunshine" included in "Super Mario 3D All-Stars."

While there are plenty of Game Boy games that should come to Nintendo Switch, the alleged leak did not confirm any sort of timeframe for when the emulations might hit the online service. Containing roughly 40 titles, the list of prospective releases is impressive. Unfortunately, it appears that some of the entries listed in the emulator may have only been there for testing purposes. Here are some of the more promising options.

Twitter user @Mondo_Mega matched the ROM files from the emulator with actual Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles. They marked which games were listed but no longer in the leaked build, indicating the titles had been tested but removed. @Mondo_Mega also shared that the emulator had screenshots from "Pokémon Ruby," "Sapphire," and "Emerald" in it, despite those games not appearing in the ROM list.

In addition to a smattering of "Mario" entries, some of the more notable titles from the list include "Castlevania: Circle of the Moon," "Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories," "Golden Sun," and "Mega Man Battle Network 2." "Golden Sun" stands out as a fan favorite that rarely  gets ported and the others weren't made by Nintendo. While the offerings remain unconfirmed, adding third-party Game Boy titles to Nintendo Switch Online would increase the quality of the service. That said, it's unclear when Game Boy games might arrive, which titles will make the cut, and if this leak is even real. In the meantime, you can always pick up an Analogue Pocket and physical cartridges if you need to get your Game Boy fix.