An update has been released for Nintendo Switch 2‘s GameCube app, with the newest software version being 1.6.1. The GameCube app was added last year, as a perk for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. However, the app is only available to play on Nintendo Switch 2, and not the original system.
Since launching last June, nine games have been released for the GameCube app. Nintendo has been slowly bringing over more fan favorites from the era. Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness was released on Nintendo Switch 2 last month, marking the first time it had ever been released on another platform. The game’s predecessor, Pokemon Colosseum, has also been teased for the GameCube app, but Nintendo hasn’t said much about it in a while.
There Could Be a Problem Bringing Animal Crossing to Nintendo Switch Online
Fans hoping to see the original Animal Crossing released on Switch 2 through the GameCube Nintendo Classics app might be out of luck.
Nintendo Switch Online’s New GameCube Update
Nintendo Switch Online’s GameCube app has been updated to version 1.6.1. Nintendo has not released patch notes, but it seems that the new update is focused on fixing a bug in one specific game. Nintendo acknowledged an issue with Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness shortly after the game was added. The issue caused crashes, and some players were losing save data as a result. It appears that the latest software update resolves this problem, and it’s not clear that anything else has changed.
When it comes to software updates, Nintendo is often vague about what gets changed, but fans are typically able to figure things out. Those hoping that this update might include more games to play are out of luck, as lots of classic GameCube games aren’t on Nintendo Switch 2 yet. Favorites like the original Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime 2, and Super Smash Bros. Melee would make a lot of people happy, and might even convince some Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to upgrade to the more expensive tier. So far, Nintendo seems to be taking its time adding GameCube games, spacing them out as it continues to add games to the apps for NES, Virtual Boy, and more.
While it has become more popular in recent years, the GameCube was something of a flop for Nintendo. Despite low sales, the system boasted an impressive library, and many of its best games remained stranded for decades. As a result, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and other GameCube games have gotten expensive on the secondary market; it’s not unusual to see some GameCube favorites fetching $100 or more on sites like eBay. The Nintendo Switch 2 app gives players a chance to experience these favorites without breaking the bank, and that’s a very good thing.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
So far, the GameCube app has largely focused on games originally published by Nintendo. Soulcalibur 2 has been the lone exception, but the Nintendo version featured Link as a playable character. That probably made the game more of a priority for Nintendo, and it remains to be seen whether the app will see other third-party games added. Skies of Arcadia Legends, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, Simpsons: Hit and Run, and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes would all be welcome on the app, but fans will have to wait and see what gets added in the future.