Virtual Console

The Virtual Console is a type of special categorization of games offered for purchase and download through the digital shops of some Nintendo consoles. They consist of emulations of games from past systems, including Nintendo systems and some third party systems. The following are the different Virtual Console services:

• Wii Virtual Console (updated from 2006-2013): For the Nintendo Wii. It was discontinued completely with the Wii's online service in 2019.
• 3DS Virtual Console (launched in 2011, releases currently scarce)
• Wii U Virtual Console (updated from 2013-2017

The Nintendo Switch is the first Nintendo console since the release of the Wii to not feature any Virtual Console classification. Classic games are still being released in other ways. Some classic titles have been released as the Arcade Archives and Sega Ages series, and Nintendo has also been making classic games from their systems available to play through the Nintendo Switch Online service.