There are rumors that Game Boy titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online in the future and few would be a better fit than Pokémon Red and Blue.

There are rumors circulating that Game Boy titles will be coming to Nintendo Switch Online in the future, and if that happens, then the service absolutely needs Pokémon games. Pokémon Red and Blue helped create a second life for the system, to the point where an ancient piece of hardware was seen as being as valuable as the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. There are few systems more perfect for new versions of Pokémon Red and Blue than the Nintendo Switch, thanks to the features that are already present in Nintendo Switch Online, and other Pokémon apps that are on the system.

There are already remakes of Pokémon Red and Blue on the Nintendo Switch, or rather, remakes of Pokémon Yellow. The Pokémon: Let's Go games are partial remakes of the Gen 1 games, though they have as much in common with the Pokémon GO games as they do the original Game Boy titles. The wild Pokémon mechanics in the Pokémon: Let's Go games are vastly different than they were in Pokémon Yellow, with players jumping straight to the capture sequence, where the player has to aim and toss the Poké Ball. As such, the existence of the Pokémon: Let's Go games shouldn't detract from the chances of the Gen 1 games appearing on Nintendo Switch, especially as they've been out for a few years now.

Nintendo doesn't fully own the Pokémon franchise, but it's a major part of The Pokémon Company, so there's a strong possibility that Pokémon games could come to Nintendo Switch Online in the future. If Game Boy games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online, then Pokémon Red and Blue would be huge draws to the service. There are several reasons why the Nintendo Switch is a perfect fit for Pokémon Red and Blue, especially with how they could connect to other Pokémon games on the system.

The Nintendo 3DS Showed What Was Capable For Pokémon Gen 1 Emulation

There is precedent for the original Pokémon games to appear on modern systems. All of the Game Boy Pokémon titles appear on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console throughout the lifespan of the system. It would have been easy for The Pokémon Company to just throw a basic emulated version of the games onto the Nintendo eShop, but the Virtual Console versions actually had the functions of the link cable, through the Nintendo 3DS' local wireless features. This means that Virtual Console players can battle and trade with each other, allowing them to capture every Pokémon except for Mew.

A version of Pokémon Red and Blue on the Nintendo Switch Online service could improve upon the Virtual Console release even further. There are lots of Nintendo Switch Online games that have online multiplayer functionality, allowing people to play NES and SNES games online with their friends. If Pokémon Red and Blue are brought to Nintendo Switch Online, then they could also have online multiplayer, making it easier than ever for players to trade and battle in the Gen 1 era. The people who missed out on the chance to catch them all in the '90s can finally do so on Nintendo Switch.

The Expansion Pack Could Add Pokémon Stadium Compatibility

The Pokémon fans of the Game Boy era had to let their imagination do most of the work during a Pokémon battle, as the hardware of Nintendo's old handheld was just barely up to the task of playing different battle effects. The players who had a Nintendo 64, a Transfer Pak, and a copy of Pokémon Stadium could bring their Pokémon to life on the TV screen, as Pokémon from Pokémon Red and Blue could be brought into the game and used in battle. Connecting to Pokémon Stadium was also necessary for unlocking the Pikachu Beach minigame in Pokémon Yellow, in order to unlock the surfing Pikachu.

The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64 games to the service and at least one Pokémon game is on the way, as Pokémon Snap is coming to the Expansion Pack in the future. If Pokémon Red and Blue come to Nintendo Switch Online, then this will be the perfect time to bring Pokémon Stadium to the Expansion Pack, especially if emulating the Transfer Pak is possible, as it will give players the full Gen 1 experience on one system. It's unknown if either of the Pokémon Stadium games will be coming to the Expansion Pack, but a datamine has confirmed that more Nintendo 64 games are on the way, and they're a strong candidate for the service, even if the Transfer Pak won't be emulated.

The Nintendo Switch Could Make Pokémon Home Compatible With The Gen 1 Games

The Virtual Console versions of Pokémon Red and Blue had an additional function that made them useful for longtime Pokémon fans. The Poké Transporter app allowed players to extract Pokémon from Pokémon Red and Blue as part of a one-way process, in order to send them to the Pokémon Bank app. Once the Pokémon were stored in Pokémon Bank, they could be sent to the Gen 7 games or into Pokémon Home. This allowed players to move Pokémon from the Gen 1 games into any of the other titles, so long as they weren't cut during the Dexit process that has been happening since Pokémon Sword and Shield.

If the Virtual Console games and Pokémon Bank can transfer the Pokémon from the Gen 1 games into the modern games, then surely the same can be done on Nintendo Switch? The Nintendo Switch already has a dedicated Pokémon Home app that can be used to directly connect with Nintendo Switch Online's apps. This would also give The Pokémon Company an incentive to allow these games to appear on Nintendo Switch Online, as Pokémon Home has a paid subscription option, and compatibility with the old Gen 1 and Gen 2 games might bring in some extra subscribers. The old Pokémon games aren't bringing in any money, save for the Virtual Console releases that will soon no longer be accessible, thanks to the Nintendo 3DS eShop closing, so bringing them to Nintendo Switch Online could at least inspire some interest in Pokémon Home. The old Pokémon from the Game Boy era cannot be brought forward to later games, due to Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire not being compatible with older games, but Nintendo Switch Online can let players use Gen 1 Pokémon in their modern games.

Next: Gen 8 Pokémon That Would Be Epic Mega Evolutions In Pokémon GO