Summary
During the Nintendo Direct showcase on April 2, Nintendo revealed that theSwitch Online + Expansion Packwill finally be introducing GameCube titles to the lineup, exclusively for the Switch 2. This announcement instantly garnered excitement from the community, as fans have long been hoping that the classic Nintendo console would be coming toSwitch Onlinesooner rather than later.
Nintendo announced during its April 2 Direct showcasethat the upcoming Switch 2 console will exclusively be gaining access to select titles from the GameCube library of iconic games. Available through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, the first of these will beThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which released in the U.S. in 2003 and introduced a unique and appealing cartoon style to the franchise, thanks to cel shading. 2002’sSoulcalibur 2and the futuristic racing gameF-Zero GXwill be joiningWind Wakeron the subscription service on June 5,sporting sharper image quality and a higher resolution than their original versions.
June 23, 2025
At a Later Date
Additional GameCube titles are already planned for release on Nintendo Switch Online as well. These includeSuper Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Super Mario Strikers, Chibi-Robo!, Luigi’s Mansion,andPokemon Colosseum.For Nintendo fans, this is a very exciting announcement, as many of these titles werereleased exclusively on the Nintendo GameCubeand have therefore been inaccessible to many gamers.
Of course, to fully enjoy these titles comingexclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 via the Switch Online + Expansion Pack, gamers will probably want a special controller, and the Japanese tech giant has planned for that as well. Similar to the reproductions of the NES, SNES, N64, and Genesis controllers already available, a wireless Nintendo GameCube controller will be launching the same day as Nintendo Switch 2, on June 5. The peripheral, which will only be available for purchase by Switch Online members, will even feature a C button, one of the unique features of the new console, to allow players to quickly access game chat.
