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Entertainment

Virtual Boy

What is virtual boy?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Developer Nintendo[1]
Release year 1995[1]
Japan release date July 21, 1995[1]
North America release date August 14, 1995[1]
Display Red monochrome display[1]
3D method Parallax or stereoscopy to simulate depth[1]

The Virtual Boy is a Nintendo video game console released in 1995 that used a red monochrome display and stereoscopic 3D to create a depth effect. It was marketed as a form of virtual reality and is commonly described as a tabletop or visor-based system rather than a TV-connected console.

Context

The Virtual Boy was a tabletop portable video game console that used a red monochrome display and stereoscopic 3D to create a depth effect. It was released in Japan on July 21, 1995, and in North America on August 14, 1995. It was marketed as a form of virtual reality, though it is not considered a true VR headset. The system was intended as a successor to the Game Boy. [1]

Documented claims

  • The Virtual Boy was marketed as the first system capable of rendering stereoscopic 3D graphics. [1]
  • The Virtual Boy was intended as a successor to the Game Boy. [2]
  • The Virtual Boy is commonly confused with virtual reality headsets or true VR devices. [1]

Questions and answers

Why was the Virtual Boy discontinued?

The Virtual Boy was discontinued, but the sources do not state the specific reasons for its discontinuation. [1]

Was the Virtual Boy the first VR?

The Virtual Boy was marketed as a form of virtual reality, but it is commonly confused with true VR headsets. The sources do not state that it was the first VR device. [1]

Is the Virtual Boy available on Switch?

The sources do not state whether the Virtual Boy is available on the Nintendo Switch. [1]

Sources

  1. Virtual Boy - Super Mario Wiki — mariowiki.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Virtual Boy — niwanetwork.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment