Nintendo announced today it will remove Super Soccer from its Nintendo Switch Online service in the US and Europe on March 28, marking the first time the company has delisted a retro game from the subscription platform since its 2018 launch.
Why it matters: The removal signals that Nintendo Switch Online’s retro game library is not permanent, raising concerns about long-term access to classic titles through subscription services.
Key Details: Nintendo’s decision affects the Super Nintendo game known as Super Formation Soccer in Japan:
- Removal applies to US and European Nintendo Switch Online subscribers
- Game will no longer be playable after March 28, even if previously downloaded
- First instance of Nintendo removing a retro title from the service
This game will no longer be available starting 3/27/25 at 6:00 p.m. PDT, states the official notice on the US Nintendo eShop.
The move impacts Nintendo Switch Online’s extensive retro game library, which has grown to over 300 titles across NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis platforms since the service launched. Until now, games added to the service remained available indefinitely.
Industry observers speculate the removal stems from expired licensing rights, as Super Formation Soccer was developed by Spike Chunsoft rather than Nintendo. This suggests third-party titles on the service may be more vulnerable to removal than Nintendo’s first-party classics.
The announcement has reignited debate over game preservation and ownership in the digital era. Hideki Kamiya, renowned game designer and Platinum Games co-founder, criticized the decision on social media:
“Hey hey hey, I guess subscriptions are no good after all,” Kamiya wrote. “Seriously, bring back the Virtual Console… don’t be so mean.”
Virtual Console, available on Nintendo’s previous consoles, allowed users to purchase and permanently own individual retro games. Its absence on Switch has been a point of contention for some fans.
Looking ahead, the removal of Super Soccer raises questions about the long-term stability of retro game libraries on subscription services. While first-party Nintendo titles will likely remain available, the future of third-party classics on the platform is less certain.
