Ever since the Virtual Console was first announced in 2005, fans have been wondering when the GameCube’s library would be added to the service. After all, it only made sense as the new logical step after the Nintendo 64, and many of the console’s titles were becoming harder to find than ever as time went on.

So, fans expected that a GameCube Virtual Console would be announced anytime now, and that’d it’d be the big reveal for the Wii U or Switch.

Alas, it didn’t happen. The Wii added a few GameCube games for sale, but these were half price reprints and upgrades, like the New Play Control series and what not. The Wii U didn’t add anything new on the home console front, with the big additions to the formula being the likes of the Game Boy Advance rather than its home console brethren.

And in the Switch era, the Switch Online service didn’t exactly change the world there either. Oh sure, you had a few more consoles available now, given that all the pre-GameCube home console and handheld Nintendo systems had game rental apps for Switch Online members, and there was some third-party stuff with the Mega Drive games there.

But that was mostly it. The GameCube repeats were confined to remakes and remasters, with no sign things would change in future.

Though we did get some INCREDIBLE remakes nonetheless!

Now with the Switch 2 though, things are finally different. Now, the GameCube Online app we’ve all been dreaming of is now finally going to be a real thing.

And it’s got one hell of a launch library too. Indeed, based on the list shown in the Direct, all the following titles are going to be available right away:

• Chibi Robo
• F-Zero GX
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
• Luigi’s Mansion
• Pokémon Colosseum
• Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
• Soul Caliber 3
• Super Mario Strikers
• Super Mario Sunshine
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

With many more likely to come in future. So yeah, it’s quite the library, and one that every GameCube fan has wanted to see included for years at this point in time.

Plus, they’ve all got the usual online multiplayer features, button remapping and save states too. Hence if you’re struggling with that secret level a bit too much in Super Mario Sunshine, or want to make a game control properly on another type of controller, now you can. It’s all here.

Still, check out the trailer below if you want to see some of these games and features in action…

Then leave your thoughts on the announcement in the comments below, on social media, or over on our Discord server today!

Source:

Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)