Yesterday, Nintendo pulled back the curtain on the Nintendo Switch 2, and while it’s a larger and presumably more advanced take on the beloved Switch, details about its capabilities were somewhat sparse. One detail from the press release caught my attention. It wasn’t so much about what the Switch 2 can do, but rather what it might not do. Nintendo cautioned that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.” Immediately, my mind drifted to a Nintendo project close to my heart—Labo.
Now, Labo might not have revolutionized the gaming world, but it still stands as one of Nintendo’s most inventive and whimsical endeavors. Yes, I’m fiercely proud of that cardboard creativity and will defend it to the end. For those who missed out on this playful venture, imagine assembling a kit of “Toy-Cons” from flat-packed cardboard, guided by a dynamic set of instructions reminiscent of putting together an IKEA bookcase. Once assembled, you could slide the Switch’s Joy-Cons into your creation, and like magic, the cardboard morphs into interactive toys—courtesy of motion sensors and the irreplaceable IR sensor on the right Joy-Con. From pianos to cameras, these Toy-Cons weren’t just props for games; they inspired users to craft their unique experiences, much in the spirit of what later became Nintendo’s Game Builder Garage.
In 2018, I declared Labo one of the most quintessentially “Nintendo” projects ever, and even years after it was quietly shelved, I feel a pang of nostalgia for what it offered. Slowly, Nintendo has been distancing itself from Labo, with the latest blow being the absence of the IR sensors in the new Joy-Cons for Switch 2.
Let me indulge in a bit of reminiscing about the Labo’s heyday, specifically the “Monster Cat,” as my son fondly named the character residing in the Variety Kit’s Toy-Con House. This nifty house accepted the right Joy-Con into its chimney, and its front was adorned with the Switch screen, while various interactable adapters could be slotted in to alter in-game scenarios. It was simple yet refreshing fun. My son treated the Monster Cat like a cherished friend, with the Toy-Con House becoming a permanent exhibit in our living room, enduring repairs over time courtesy of tape and glue innovations.
I didn’t fully grasp that Labo was being discreetly phased out until 2021. Nintendo’s typical ambiguity surrounded its departure, as they took the website offline without much fanfare, leaving retailers with unsold bulky kits that became hard to store and harder to sell. Realizing too late, I scrambled to find another Variety Kit for our Monster Cat, though all I found was an extra VR Kit. Nintendo has commendably released files for fans to recreate these kits, preserving this unique product. However, my search for something tangible to reproduce hasn’t yet borne fruit. (Fellow enthusiasts, if you’ve cracked the code, feel free to drop me an email!)
It’s understandable that some fans feel a bit let down by the Nintendo Switch 2 sticking closely to a proven formula. While we all cheer for its success, there’s a part of me that’s hoping Nintendo hasn’t discarded the daring ideas like Labo. Perhaps, with an addition like an optical mouse sensor, we might see the birth of a new Monster Cat—one who might just be fond of chasing mice this time around.
(Love you always, Monster Cat.)
