The rumors are true - GameCube games will soon be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo Switch Online service. NSO allows players to access a variety of different games from retro consoles, expanding its collection over the years - most recently, the Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance were added as part of the Expansion Pack subscription. As the only official way to play many of these classic Nintendo games, NSO represents a massive development in game preservation.

Soon, though, players will be able to add much of the GameCube library to their NSO backlogs once the Switch 2 is released. Announced the same day as the Switch 2 - June 5 - for NSO + Expansion Pack subscribers. They'll be exclusive to the Switch 2. While the library is limited for now, it does include one of the most requested NSO games of all time - the classic The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. (Nothing on Twilight Princess yet, though.)

Several Gamecube Classics Launch Alongside Switch 2

Everything Coming To NSO's Gamecube Library At Launch

The GameCube library on NSO appears to be limited at launch, consisting of just three games: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX. That's nothing to sneeze at. These are all excellent games in their own right. The Wind Waker is one of the most beloved Zelda games, owing to its unique art style and open sea exploration. Soulcalibur 2 is a fighting game renowned for its incredible crossover roster. And F-Zero GX is a fast-paced racing game with a high difficulty curve and lots of replay value.

But that library will be greatly expanded with later releases. All the following games have been confirmed for GameCube on NSO, with release dates to be determined:

• Super Mario Sunshine
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
• Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
• Super Mario Strikers
• Chibi-Robo
• Luigi's Mansion
• Pokémon Colosseum

That's a pretty impressive lineup, even if it'll take some time to get here. Of course, there's potential for a lot more of the GameCube library to be added over time - this is just what we know of for now.

Nintendo is also coming out with a GameCube-styled controller, to be released on the same day as the Switch 2. Available in that memorable shade of GameCube purple, the controller is a faithful (if wireless) recreation of a classic piece of hardware - it even features a set of C buttons. The GameCube controller will be available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers starting June 5.

GameCube Has Always Belonged On NSO

A Long-Awaited Addition

It's no great surprise to see GameCube titles finally coming to NSO - the way Nintendo's been adding for new consoles, it was really only a matter of time. Still, it's a great surprise. Fans have been begging for GameCube-era Zelda on Switch ever since the Skyward Sword remaster came out, so even just the addition of The Wind Waker was worth the wait.

This is also a major win for game preservation. There's no other official way to play most of the NSO's anticipated GameCube library, except purchasing used copies of the games and a working GameCube - and with the way retro game collecting has gone in recent years, that can be prohibitively expensive.

I do wish these titles were available for individual purchase, as they were on the Wii U's Virtual Console. It's an impressive library, and I'd love to be able to play these games on the big screen without having to dig out my old GameCube (if it even still works) and fuss around with RCA to HDMI converters - I just wish I could buy the games I wanted once, and keep them as long as I wanted, without having to pay a monthly fee. Still, I have to acknowledge that GameCube on NSO is a big selling point for the Nintendo Switch 2.