Before Nintendo's subscription service took off, fans could buy and download retro first-party titles individually and play them whenever they wanted thanks to the Virtual Console service.
While this was eventually replaced by Switch Online's retro level-based library, Nintendo apparently had plans to port the existing Virtual Console service and add online functionality. This information comes from “a new iQue email leak not too long ago” according to Yakumon's blogrun by dataminer (and Nintendo Life user) LuigiBlood.
The Switch virtual console — codenamed “Clipper” — reportedly began development “around 2015.” and was a collaboration between iQue and M2, with possible involvement of other teams, such as NERD. It was believed to be “basically” a virtual console with a “free monthly game” for NSO subscribers.
“Remember the original announcement of the Nintendo Switch Online retro game service? It used to say this: “Subscribers will be able to download and play a Nintendo Entertainment System™ (NES) or Super Nintendo Entertainment System™ (Super NES) game (with the new- added online play) free for a month.” To me this is a remnant of what it used to be. I believe the original plan was basically Virtual Console but with one free monthly game for those who pay for NSO It was later confirmed that these were paid games, at least in the media.”
Also revealed were some other details about what Nintendo's Virtual Console service would be like on the Switch.
These include special animations in “CRT mode” – complete with “TV noise” and even a power button sound “for both Famicom and NES”. Online netplay was also to be an “important” part of the plans. Then “around May 2017.” “Clipper” updates failed after being replaced by the “L-Classics” project – paving the way for the current “long-term” model.
The demise of “Clipper” coincides with Nintendo's announcement the same year – confirming classic game libraries for the Switch Online service. This is just scratching the surface of the latest discoveries, but you can learn more on Yakumon's blog.
