Nintendo’s ‘Virtual Console’ again, but don’t get your hopes up

It’s time to talk about trademarks again, because Nintendo of America has moved a new filing for “Virtual Console” to the pending phase. But let’s be clear from the start, probably doesn’t mean what you think.

As reported to us by @MikeOdysseyYT on The application concerns two different classes of products and services: IC 009 for “Recorded electronic game programs; downloadable electronic game programs; recorded video game programs” and the like, and IC 041 for “Providing non-downloadable online electronic publications, namely, online journals and online interactive blogs featuring user-generated or user-specified content in the field of video games and online publications in the form of electronic books in the field of video games,” among other things.

NOA currently owns two other brands for Virtual Console (one renewed in 2018 and one in 2020), each of which relates only to one of the two classes of “goods and services” described above.

But does this mean that the virtual console will make a comeback? Probably not, honestly. Trademarks are a long-standing protection game, and Nintendo always over it. The company issues renewals at any time, ensuring that its wording, names, and intellectual property all remain under the same legal framework – some of them turn into something, but most of them are just to keep everything under lock and key.

That said, this isn’t it a renewal. The request in question is for a rebrand, with the two pre-existing virtual consoles remaining where they are. The fact that the beginner compiles the goods and services classes of the other two makes us think that this is simply a preemptive way to move everything into a single TM, but enthusiastic speculation is bound to lean in the opposite direction.

Even putting aside typical brand behavior, we can’t imagine Nintendo plans to bring back the Virtual Console program while continuing to push Nintendo Switch Online to the forefront. Sure, it would be nice to have the chance to purchase some of these classics on modern hardware, but why risk NSO subs in the process?

So yes, there might be a new brand in town soon, but let’s not get our hopes up, eh?