Nintendo Announces First-Ever Game Removal From Switch Online Retro Library

Super Formation Soccer will be delisted from the Japanese Super Famicom library on March 28, raising concerns about the permanence of digital game libraries.

Nintendo confirmed that Super Formation Soccer will be removed from the Japanese Super Famicom library on Switch Online on March 28, marking the first game removal since the service's launch in 2018.
The game, known as Super Soccer in the West, has not yet been announced for removal in North America or Europe, where it was published by Nintendo rather than third-party Spike Chunsoft.
Players in Japan will lose access to the game entirely after its removal, even if they have previously downloaded it through the subscription service.
The removal highlights potential licensing issues for third-party games on Switch Online and raises concerns about the permanence of digital game libraries.
Fans and industry figures, including Hideki Kamiya, have criticized the move, calling for the return of Nintendo's Virtual Console, which allowed users to purchase and retain individual games.