UPDATE: Nintendo didn’t announce a virtual console for the DSi at its GDC keynote, but it’s rolled out Virtual Console Arcade for the Wii, as well as an SD card expansion upgrade, plus a new Zelda game for the DS!


The Nintendo DSi may be about to get a boost in the form of a Wii-like ‘virtual console’ that will allow you to play GameBoy and GameBoy Advance games. Without having to run a homebrew emulator.

The DSi isn’t a must-buy for many people yet – there just isn’t the range of DSI-specific titles and the camera is best described as ‘working’. At a recent Club Nintendo members event, however, rumours emerged of  something that may draw the crowds – downloadable GameBoy and GBA games.

The Nintendo Wii has its ‘virtual console’ for playing NES and SNES games but, as Kotaku notes, not GameBoy titles. Adding GameBoy and GBA support to the DSi would give it a massive injecton of quality games and it should be possible to fit a sizable library on the supported SD cards.

Nintendo are admitting nothing at the moment, but with their GDC keynote imminent we have our fingers crossed that this is true.

Out April 3 | £150 | Nintendo (via Kotaku)

  • MarkG

    i’m still stunned how Nintendo can fool consumers into repeatably buying the same item many times over.

    Wii = Gamecube in a new box.
    DS = DSlite = DSi

    Make something short of supply, and it’s demand will skyrocket, consumers will kill people in their way to buy one..

  • Ben Sillis

    I have a Wii and I think the Play On Wii line Nintendo has been touting is a real smack in the face to anyone who played or owned Nintendo consoles before it discovered how lucrative mini games and motion sensors were. This has the potential to be just as exploitative, but if the rumours are true (http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/03/19/nintendo-dsi-shop-to-take-on-app-store/) I’m happy for Nintendo to offer DLC beyond its own back catalogue.

Hot chat, right here!


Our most commented stories right now...