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Nintendo is renowned for its success in the gaming industry with products like the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 64. However, beneath that dazzling facade lies a complete failure in the form of the Nintendo Virtual Boy.
One of the console systems that Nintendo let sink into oblivion is the Virtual Boy, which failed in the 1990s. With a design comprising a headset for players to peer into along with a controller for task navigation, Virtual Boy was a gaming device designed akin to VR glasses of today's era.
At the time, this product promised superior technological capabilities ahead of its time. Nintendo marketed Virtual Boy as a creative, unique experience. However, it did not receive the anticipated reception that Nintendo hoped for.
Many users of Virtual Boy found that the experience it provided did not match Nintendo's advertisements. Virtual Boy only had a monochrome red and black screen, lacking mobility like the Game Boy, and many believed that the 3D effect did not truly enhance the overall gaming experience.
Furthermore, the games themselves for Virtual Boy were truly lackluster and failed to attract much excitement from players. Only 22 Virtual Boy games were ever released. Not to mention, there were numerous reports suggesting that Virtual Boy came with a range of potential health hazards, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and eye strain.
Reality check before its release, Nintendo had to issue warnings about the potential health risks for users to restrict young children from playing Virtual Boy, which could lead to long-term vision issues.
These flaws led Virtual Boy down the path of destruction. Initially released in 1995, Virtual Boy's selling price started around $180, but Nintendo had to continuously reduce it to attract customers due to sluggish sales.
In total, only 770,000 gaming consoles were sold, a tiny number compared to the Game Boy, which had a total sales of 40 million. This prompted Nintendo to halt production and discontinue Virtual Boy just a year later.
Fortunately, following this failure, the Japanese console manufacturer learned valuable lessons and consistently achieved success with products like Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and numerous game titles, solidifying Nintendo as a major player in the gaming industry.
According to Slashgear
