Related: How A New 2D Metroid Switch Game Can Improve On Samus Returns The Game Boy Player attachment for GameCube even allowed fans to play GBA cartridges on their TVs, and the Wii U Virtual Console gave fans a way to access and play GBA games long after the handheld was out of production. This was mirrored in Nintendo’s disc-based home consoles, as the Wii played GameCube games, and the Wii U supported both Wii games and accessories. Nintendo maintained one-generation-prior backwards compatibility in its subsequent portables early models of the Nintendo DS played GBA games, and the 3DS played DS titles. The Game Boy Advance and its illuminated-screen successor, the Game Boy Advance SP, played original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games in addition to their own, original titles.

Based on the current success of the Switch in spite of its lack of support for legacy Nintendo titles, a return of the Virtual Console is unfortunately not a likely prospect. This leaves the GBA library restricted to original hardware and the Wii U Virtual Console. Nintendo was among the most consistent supporters of backwards compatibility and access to legacy games in prior generations, but the Switch marked an end to that positive track record.

June 11, 2021 marks 20 years since the North American release of Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance, a portable gaming system with a massive library of classic games that deserve to be more accessible.

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