Fans are split on Nintendo releasing Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch as standalone titles with a $20 price point, but Nintendo just says it's having fun.
Earlier today it was revealed that the Nintendo Switch will finally be getting mainline retro Pokemon games on the system after years of fan requests for them to appear on Nintendo Switch Online. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are arriving next week on Pokemon Day, allowing people to relive the first games in the series via their 2004 remakes. However, they won't be on the Game Boy Advance Nintendo Switch Online service, instead costing $20/£17 each on the Nintendo eShop.
Nintendo acknowledges this weird release in a FAQ on its website (via Nintendo Life) explaining why these games have been handled differently: "In celebration of 30 years of Pokemon, we thought it would be fun to return to the ultimate versions of the original Pokémon adventures in the Kanto region with these special releases."
Naturally, locking these out of the subscription has pleased those who want to be able to buy retro games on their own, with one Twitter user saying "they can release GBA games without needing the more expensive Nintendo Switch online. Seriously they would make so much money if they had just done this from the start." Meanwhile, Serebii owner Joe Merrick reckons it's down to Game Freak being against cloud saves and rewind features in the RPGs, as one adds that they'd "rather own it without a subscription" anyway.
Others, however, aren't happy to be paying a subscription only to also have to buy these GBA games separately, with one response wondering why they aren't "being added to the mediocre list of GBA games that Expansion Pack subscribers are already paying for?" They call it "monumental greed."
Some others are fine with the separate release, but the steep price point for what is a ROM of a game from 2004 is naturally raising some eyebrows, with another Pokemon fan adding that "$20 is ABSOLUTELY disgusting for GBA ports and somehow Pokemon fans eat this AGAIN." But, after Scarlet and Violet sold so well despite being in terrible shape at launch, Pokemon fans aren't exactly known for voting with their wallets.
