Nintendo Switch Online Gets a Boost for Game Boy Advance Games
Nintendo Switch Online has rolled out a significant update for its Game Boy Advance emulator, bringing it more in line with the features offered for other classic consoles. The new functionality enhances the experience for players revisiting these handheld classics on both the original Switch and its successor.
The headline addition in version 3.0.0 of the GBA app is the introduction of button remapping. This feature, already available for the N64 and SNES libraries, allows players to customize their control schemes directly from the in-game menu. This provides welcome flexibility for players who may find the default layouts uncomfortable or unintuitive, though many feel this should have been a foundational feature from the service’s launch.
A more subtle but notable improvement involves visual fidelity on the newer hardware. Games within the GBA library now reportedly run at a native 1080p resolution when played in handheld mode on the latest console. This upgrade happens automatically, as there is no manual toggle for video quality settings. This means pixel-based graphics are rendered with greater sharpness and clarity on the larger screen. For purists who prefer the original look, the app still offers the option to play within a bordered, smaller screen or to apply a filter that mimics the scanlines of older displays.
Perhaps the most charming part of the update is a hidden Easter egg. By wiggling the analog stick while the GBA application is booting up, users are treated to the iconic original Game Boy Advance startup screen, complete with its nostalgic sound. This follows a similar hidden feature added to the GameCube emulator earlier this year, showing Nintendo’s attention to nostalgic details.
While the update improves the technical and experiential aspects of the emulator, it did not include any new game additions to the service. The library’s most recent title was Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, which was added back in April. This leaves fans waiting for the next wave of classic GBA games to arrive on the subscription platform.
