Back in September, it emerged every Nintendo Switch console was hiding an NES-era golf game called Flog (golf backwards).
The simple 1984 game, which included instructions to play with the Joy-Con controllers, proved an NES emulator sat within the Switch console.
However, following a recent software update, Flog has disappeared from the Switch operating system.
Switch Brew reports (via BBC) the game was wiped from the system following the release of software update 4.0.0.
The site notes: “Flog was stubbed: official code for launching it was removed from the home menu, and *all* code was overwritten with garbage. Thus, even attempts to launch it manually will result in loader returning error 0xA09.”
Why Nintendo included it in the first place is unclear.
Some fans believe it is a precursor to a full-on NES emulator, which should arrive when Nintendo fully launches the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Related: Best Switch games 2017
This will replace the virtual console that has previously brought retro titles for Nintendo’s newer machines.
Others believe the game was included as a tribute to former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who passed away in 2015.
The game could only be activated if Switch owners set the system date to July 11, the date of Mr Iwata’s death. Also, the game was operated by using Iwata’s signature hand gesture.
Nintendo hasn’t confirmed any of the theories and is now unlikely to.
Will you be subscribing to the Switch Online service when it rolls out next year? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.