Was There a Nintendo Virtual Boy 2 Console Planned?

The Nintendo Virtual Boy remains one of the company’s most notable commercial failures, leading many to wonder if a successor was ever in the works. While there was no officially announced Virtual Boy 2, evidence suggests that Nintendo did explore concepts and improvements for the technology before abandoning the platform entirely. This article examines the history of the Virtual Boy, the rumors surrounding a sequel, and the reasons why Nintendo halted its VR ambitions for decades.

Released in 1995, the Virtual Boy was marketed as the first portable console capable of displaying 3D graphics. However, the device suffered from significant drawbacks, including a monochrome red display, high price point, and reports of physical discomfort such as eye strain and headaches. These issues resulted in poor sales figures, causing Nintendo to discontinue the hardware within a year of its launch. The commercial reception was so negative that it effectively froze any immediate plans for a follow-up device.

Despite the quick discontinuation, industry insiders and historical documents indicate that ideas for an improved version existed. Gunpei Yokoi, the creator of the Game Boy and the Virtual Boy, reportedly acknowledged the system’s flaws. There were internal discussions about creating a color version and making the unit more portable. Patents filed by Nintendo during this era show continued interest in stereoscopic 3D technology, hinting that the concept was not immediately dead within the R&D departments.

However, the failure of the Virtual Boy had significant personnel consequences. Yokoi eventually left Nintendo in 1996, which many historians link to the fallout from the Virtual Boy’s performance. Without Yokoi’s advocacy, the momentum for a virtual reality sequel vanished. Nintendo shifted its focus back to traditional 2D and 3D gaming with the Nintendo 64, leaving the Virtual Boy as a standalone footnote in their history.

In conclusion, while there was no fully developed Virtual Boy 2 console ready for production, early conceptual planning did occur before the project was scrapped. The combination of financial loss, health concerns, and key staff departures ensured that the platform never received a second chance. It would take over twenty years before Nintendo revisited virtual reality concepts with the Nintendo Labo VR Kit, marking the end of a long hiatus from the technology.