Nintendo is making a surprising move by removing a game from its Nintendo Switch Online service for the first time. The affected title, Super Formation Soccer, will be delisted from the Japanese version of the service on March 28th.  While the reasons for the removal remain unclear, it sets a precedent that has many subscribers wondering about the future of the retro game library.

The Nintendo Switch Online service has been a popular feature for Nintendo fans, offering a growing collection of classic NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis titles.  The addition of retro games has been a major draw for many subscribers, providing access to beloved games like Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and even third-party franchises like Mega Man and Castlevania.

The news of Super Formation Soccer's removal came via an update from Nintendo's Japanese customer support. The Spike Chunsoft-developed Super Famicom title was initially added to the service in 2019. This delisting marks the first instance of Nintendo removing a game from the Switch Online service since its inception in 2018.

The decision to remove Super Formation Soccer is unexpected and raises concerns about future removals. As a licensed third-party title, its status might have contributed to its delisting. It's also unclear whether other regions, where the game was published by Nintendo, will also see the game removed. Nintendo has yet to release an official statement addressing the situation.

This delisting comes at a time when fans have been vocal about their requests for new additions to the service, including the classic Pokemon games (currently only spin-offs are available) and support for other consoles like the GameCube.  The removal of Super Formation Soccer, while currently limited to Japan, creates uncertainty about the long-term availability of other titles on the service.