Get ready, retro fans—Nintendo is finally giving the GameCube the spotlight it deserves. In a nostalgia-packed presentation introducing the Nintendo Switch 2, the company revealed that beloved GameCube titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX will be playable at launch through the Nintendo Classics library via the NSO Expansion Pack. Priced at $449.99, the Switch 2 feels more like an event than a console release—especially when the purple GameCube “G” logo kicks off a highlight reel of high-res trailers. With gameplay-enhanced ports, obscure cult classics like Chibi-Robo! and Eternal Darkness possibly on deck, and even a wireless GameCube controller in the works, Nintendo isn’t just revisiting the past—it’s resurrecting it in HD glory. As The Verge’s Wes Davis puts it, “I’ll be doing my damndest to get it on day one.”

Key Points:

• Major Reveal: Nintendo is adding GameCube games to the Switch 2's Nintendo Classics library via the NSO Expansion Pack, joining NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, and N64.

• Launch Titles: High-res versions of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soul Calibur II will be available at launch.

• Fan Favorites on the Horizon: Nintendo teased upcoming re-releases like Super Mario Strikers, Chibi-Robo!, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, and Cubivore.

• Soul Calibur II Bonus: Switch 2 version includes adult Link as a playable fighter, just like the GameCube version—a fan-favorite Easter egg.

• Classic Hardware Return: Nintendo is releasing a modern, wireless version of the iconic GameCube controller to complete the retro revival experience.

• Subscription Deal: GameCube games require an NSO Expansion Pack subscription. Existing Switch game owners can also access Switch 2 enhancements for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

• Preorder Priority: Long-time NSO subscribers will get priority access to preorders for the Switch 2, although terms and conditions apply.

• Price Tag: The Nintendo Switch 2 launches at $449.99, with these retro re-releases helping justify the price.

• GameCube’s Underdog Story: Despite being a cult classic console with lower sales than the Wii or Switch, the GameCube is finally poised for a comeback.

Additional Context:

• F-Zero GX fans have long begged for a modern revival. The original was co-developed with Sega's Amusement Vision and is still praised for visuals and gameplay.

• Eternal Darkness has a rocky legacy—critically acclaimed but caught in IP limbo, making its potential re-release especially exciting.

• Nintendo has historically been conservative with GameCube re-releases, making this a big shift in strategy—possibly influenced by strong NSO Expansion Pack engagement.

In short: Switch 2 isn’t just a hardware upgrade; it’s your time machine back to GameCube greatness. Nintendo may have just turned nostalgia into its most powerful launch feature.
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