Nintendo has surprised its loyal fanbase by announcing that it will remove a game from its Switch Online retro library. This marks a significant moment since the service launched in 2018. Since then, Nintendo has been reintroducing classic titles from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, allowing Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to relive their childhood memories. As of now, there are around 315 games available across various platforms, such as NES, SNES, Game Boy, and more.
However, on March 28, Super Formation Soccer, known in the West as Super Soccer, will be removed from the Super Famicom (SNES) library for Japanese subscribers. While fans outside Japan can still access Super Soccer through the Japanese eShop, it’s unclear if this delisting will extend to other regions.
The reasoning behind this move remains murky. Nintendo published the original Super Soccer in Western markets, while the Japanese version was handled by Human Entertainment, which is now defunct. The rights seem to rest with Spike Chunsoft.
This situation raises eyebrows about the longevity of third-party titles on Switch Online. While it’s likely that first-party Nintendo games will remain indefinitely (or until the service itself goes dark), there’s now a hint that some third-party titles could vanish without warning.
Hideki Kamiya, co-founder of PlatinumGames, expressed his discontent with X. He’s an outspoken advocate for classic games and took this opportunity to call for the return of Virtual Console. This service allowed players to purchase individual games on Wii and other systems. “Hey hey hey,” he tweeted. “Seriously, bring back the Virtual Console… don’t be so mean.”
It’s worth noting that many retro classics faced similar fates on Virtual Console over the years. Titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Street Fighter II were delisted but remained playable for those who had purchased them beforehand. Switch Online’s model is subscription-based instead of purchase-based, and it’s gone for good once Super Formation Soccer is gone.
The team at ConsolePCGaming.com is reaching out to Nintendo to clarify whether more removals are planned or if this is just an isolated incident. For now, though, it leaves us wondering how many other classics might fall victim to similar circumstances.
What do you think about Nintendo’s decision? Are you worried about losing access to your favorite retro titles? Share your thoughts in the comments!
