Goldeneye could come to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack after Nintendo changes rating

BySteven Smith Hours
Goldeneye N64 Key Art

Goldeneye 007 was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997, and it went on to become of the greatest console FPS games of the 1990s and helped introduce and define many mechanics that would become staples in the genre for many years to come.

Due to the game being a licensed movie tie-in, porting the game to modern systems has been incredibly tricky and it wouldn’t be cheap due to Eon Productions owning the James Bond IP and the game featuring the likeness of many real actors.

But, a recent rating change could give players hope that the classic N64 FPS title could see the light of day once again on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.

Germany ratings change hints at Goldeneye coming to NSO

Germany is very strict when it comes to which games it allows to be sold in the country, with many being banned or receiving censored versions usually due to a high level of violence.

Notable games that have been banned or censored in Germany include Bioshock, much of the Call of Duty series, many Mortal Kombat games, and some Wolfenstein titles.

Goldeneye 007 N64 Facility
Credit: Nintendo/Eon Productions

As noted by Mental Floss and reported by Nintendo Everything, it was illegal for Nintendo to advertise or sell the game to minors due to the game’s death scenes and perceived glorification of violence.

Recently, one of Nintendo’s European representatives requested that the game be removed from the list and it was accepted, meaning that the game is no longer on the “banned” list from the German federal agency Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien (Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons).

This is very unusual as the game was released in 1997 and the N64 was discontinued in 2002, meaning the game hasn’t been actively sold by Nintendo for almost 20 years.

Goldeneye has never seen release on other platforms, although a canceled Xbox 360 port was developed in 2009, which was leaked online earlier this year.

READ MORE: Nintendo Switch Online: Every N64 and Genesis game coming to the service

It is exciting to think about what this could mean. The Nintendo Switch Online service recently added the Expansion Pack, which brought N64 and Sega Genesis games to the service.

So, could we be set to see Goldeneye 007 be added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack?

Before this, we would have said it is next to impossible that we would see it. But, now we think it could be a possibility and it would be incredible to see, especially as some titles such as Mario Kart 64 have added online multiplayer capabilities.

Can you imagine if players could play Goldeneye 007 online? No Oddjob!