It doesn't take much to get gamers speculating on the next big game announcement nowadays, and the rumor mill is currently working overtime thanks to the announcement of a new Nintendo Direct. Taking place Thursday, September 23 at 3pm PT, Nintendo promises to give fans a staggering 40 minutes of information. The focus this time around will be on games that are coming this winter, and while games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus will probably get most of the attention, there's likely to be room for some even bigger surprises.
Rumors have been circulating on all manner of Nintendo projects all year, some of them more legitimate than others. The ever-persistent Nintendo Switch Pro rumor proved to be somewhat true after the announcement of the Switch OLED, but there's one other point of speculation that could finally be resolved at the upcoming Direct. For the past month, rumors that Game Boy and Game Boy Color games would be coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service have been gaining traction thanks to certain insiders. If these rumors hold any water, there would be no better time to confirm them than at the upcoming Nintendo Direct.
Following Nintendo's Switch Online Patterns
While the possibility of Nintendo announcing Game Boy games for Nintendo Switch Online at the next Direct is purely speculation, the company has built up a pattern that could support the thought. When looking at the history of Switch Online, the service was implemented in September of 2018, bringing a suite of classic NES games with it. Exactly a year later, Nintendo announced that SNES games would come to the service in a September Direct event. If this pattern is any indication, it's completely possible that Game Boy games could be announced at the upcoming Direct and made available before the end of September to celebrate Switch Online's anniversary once again.
Setting Nintendo Up For A Successful Holiday
Announcing Game Boy games for Switch Online would not only put a lot of rumors to rest, but it could potentially set Nintendo up for a very lucrative holiday season. The next three to four months are going to be very big for the company, between the release of the Nintendo Switch OLED, two unique Pokemon experiences, and mounting anticipation for games like Breath of the Wild 2 and Splatoon 3. Where all of this may seem very stressful for Nintendo, introducing Game Boy games to Switch Online could very well be the one thing that makes the next few months that much easier.
Aside from the simple fact that more people signing up for Switch Online means the service continues to thrive, introducing Game Boy games could work cohesively with every single Nintendo project that is coming out through the holidays. In terms of the Switch OLED, the console's upgrades are geared more towards handheld play. Adding Game Boy games to Switch Online could entice more players towards the console because they'll be able to play their favorite classic games with an enhanced display, and features like an improved kickstand. And if classic Pokemon games are added, it could be a great way to build hype for Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
For clarity's sake, there is no official confirmation if Nintendo will announce that Game Boy games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online. It should be said, though, that considering the recency of some rumors and Nintendo's next few months of big releases, the announcement would be more than appropriate. Fans will just have to hold out hope until the next Nintendo Direct takes place in the very near future.