Technologies

Nintendo’s Back in VR With a New Virtual Boy, Coming Next Year for Switch

The long-lost console is being revived next February in cardboard and plastic form as a Switch accessory with Switch Online games.

I keep wondering when Nintendo will get back into VR — I asked Shigeru Miyamoto about it earlier this year, in fact. Well, Nintendo’s going back to VR, sort of: the Virtual Boy is back, baby. Retro games and a Virtual Boy accessory for the Switch and Switch 2 are coming Feb. 17 next year.

The Virtual Boy was one of several things the company announced for Mario’s 40th anniversary in a Direct livestream Friday, including new remasters of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2.

The failed 1996 stereoscopic game console was one of the long-lost weird wonders of Nintendo history, revived in recent years with an emulator that enabled games to be played on modern VR headsets. Nintendo’s making it an official part of the Switch experience, though, with a new library of Switch Online games for Virtual Boy. There’s a new red and black accessory you’ll need to play the games, too.

The plastic Virtual Boy accessory shown off by Nintendo for the Nintendo Direct looks exactly like the old Virtual Boy, bulky and weird as ever. The Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 will fit in it to play the 3D black and red games. There’s also a cardboard version for playing the games, too, presumably at a much lower price than whatever the plastic Virtual Boy recreation will cost.

The games themselves will be part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. Nintendo’s promising 14 titles released over time, including Tetris.

Nintendo has a long history of dabbling in VR. Nintendo Labo VR, released in 2019, was also a cardboard kit for the Switch that played a variety of VR games with cardboard accessories. The Nintendo 3DS had its own 3D display (but no Virtual Boy games), and shipped with AR games at launch. At Univeral’s theme parks, the Mario Kart ride already uses an AR visor to project overlaid experiences. The Mario Kart Live RC car game uses built-in AR effects, too.

I wondered if Nintendo would ever support a plug-in VR or AR headset for the Switch 2, and so far Nintendo hasn’t indicated any interest — the Switch 2 won’t even work with plug-in display glasses without a bulky adapter. But the Virtual Boy shows Nintendo’s still curious… or nostalgic. Or both. I’ll see you next year with this on my face for a full review.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube