In its statement, Nintendo said that Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2 were included in the “Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics” image by accident on its part. Since then, the image has been removed.

“We recently provided a retailer with an image of Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics titles that incorrectly included games that are not planned for release at this time,” said Nintendo of America. “The image has been removed, and we apologize for any confusion.”

The Nintendo GameCube Classics were introduced alongside the launch of the Switch 2, and can be accessed through a subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was noted as being an interesting potential addition to the service, since the company was rumoured to have been working on a remaster of the title since as far back as 2023. These reports started to surface just months after the release of Metroid Prime Remastered. According to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, Nintendo has been planning to remaster the second and third games at some point. Due to this, some believed that Nintendo hadn’t yet brought Metroid Prime 2: Echoes to its online service to sell more copies of the eventual remaster.

None of the GameCube Metroid games are currently available on the service. However, older titles like the original Metroid, Super Metroid, and even Metroid Fusion are available.

Metroid Prime fans can check out our review of the latest entry—Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The title was released just last month on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

As for Pikmin, Nintendo had started teasing something for the franchise with an animated trailer back in October. However, few details have been revealed aside from the fact that the trailer was created completely in-house by Nintendo Pictures. The teaser was largely focused on a baby left alone in a room by its mother and being confused when its pacifier popped out. While the teaser released on YouTube at the time had invisible forces at play, another version released through the Nintendo Today smartphone app confirmed that Pikmin were the source of the baby’s adventure.

The last entry in the series was Pikmin 4, whose producer had also noted that we wouldn’t have to wait too long to see a new release. “We’ll try not to let everyone wait,” he said in a 2023 interview.

Pikmin 4 was released in 2023, and has sold more than 3 million copies. It introduced a host of new elements to the franchise, including a new space dog named Otachi.

That means you can experience where it all began, from obtaining the Poltergust 3000 and cleansing its four areas of dastardly ghosts to treasure hunting and eventually saving Mario. While praised for its new ideas, visuals, and audio, Luigi’s Mansion received its fair share of criticism for the short playtime and low replay value.

Still, as part of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, it’s worth checking it out for historical purposes (and Halloween celebrations) if nothing else. For more details on the other games, check out our reviews for Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Luigi’s Mansion 3.

For instance, Nintendo has released a new trailer to detail some of the new features that those subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be able to use with N64 titles on the Nintendo Switch 2. Specifically, subscribers will be able to rewind their games, both view and change controls, and apply a CRT filter to your screen for a more retro look (which will be available with GameCube titles as well). Viewing and changing controls will be available on the Switch as well, but the other new features are all Switch 2- exclusive, Nintendo says. 

The Switch 2 launches on June 5, and will have three GameCube titles available at launch for the service’s subscribers in the form of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. Others, such as the likes of Super Mario Sunshine, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Pokemon Colosseum, Luigi’s Mansion, and more, will be added down the line. 

Taking to Twitter, for instance, Nintendo has revealed that it has added the 1996 Rare-developed N64 fighting game Killer Instinct Gold to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack library. Those subscribed to the costlier tier of the service will be able to play the fighter with all of the added bells and whistles of Nintendo Switch Online (such as save state functionality, for starters) starting now. 

Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of Killer Instinct Gold’s gameplay, its roster of fighters, its stages, modes, and more. 

As reported by Nintendo Life, GameCube titles playable on the Switch 2 via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will feature a CRT filter option. For those looking for an even more authentic retro experience, the filter should come as a welcome addition.

GameCube titles will be available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on the Switch 2 on June 5, the day of the console’s release. At launch, three games will be available in the form of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. More games will follow down the line, including Super Mario Sunshine, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Pokemon Colosseum, Luigi’s Mansion, and more.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can get the upgrade packs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom at no added cost. Once again, you must own the Switch 1 versions of each game, but as long as you’re subscribed, their upgrades will remain playable on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Another benefit for Expansion Pack subscribers is access to GameCube titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2 and F-Zero GX. These are exclusively playable on the Switch 2, with other titles like Luigi’s Mansion, Super Mario Sunshine, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and Super Mario Strikers coming later.

Developed by Nintendo and published by Namco for the N64 in 2000, Ridge Racer 64 was the first game in the series for a non-PlayStation console. A remake of the racing title was released for the Nintendo DS in 2004, though it was much less well-received. The former, however, still has its fans, who should be thrilled about its upcoming re-release.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can play the game at no additional cost. It also features four-player split-screen multiplayer, a first for the series. The game also touts multiple modes, nine courses, 25 cars, and more. Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of what it has in store and stay tuned for more updates on forthcoming titles for Nintendo Switch Online.

Ridge Racer~ 🎶

Race with up to four players and experience fast-paced arcade action in Ridge Racer 64, available now for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members! #N64 pic.twitter.com/pvybSDyCS5

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 31, 2025

Taking to Twitter, Nintendo announced that Rare’s acclaimed N64 platform Banjo-Tooie is coming to the service. Specifically, the game will be available for everyone subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack later this month, on October 25.

Of course, thanks to Rare and Microsoft’s efforts, the game has already been playable on modern Xbox hardware for several years, but now, its original Nintendo audience can dive back into it on their current platform of choice as well.

The original Banjo-Kazooie is also available on Switch via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, which means Rare’s acclaimed platforming duo is now playable in its entirety on the console. 

How the company will choose to expand on the service again in the future is a question that many have pondered, especially with the successor to the Switch looming in the horizon- and Nintendo, too, seems to be teasing those details. 

Spotted and shared by @Wario64 on Twitter, Nintendo recently sent out a Switch Online newsletter that celebrates the three-year anniversary of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. In addition to touching on its library of N64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance titles (alongside expansions for first-party titles such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and others), the newsletter also seems to hint at further “exciting” improvements set to come to the service in “the coming year”.

“Cheers to 3 years!” the newsletter reads. “We hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy revisiting or discovering classic games in the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis libraries – oh, and doing more in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Splatoon 2 with access to their paid DLC included. 

“What excitement will the next year bring for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members? Stay tuned to find out.”

Nintendo recently announced a playtest for players in select regions for an unknown “new feature” headed for Nintendo Switch Online in the future. Whether this has any relation to that is anyone’s guess. Either way, from GameCube titles to perhaps adding the DS’ library, there’s plenty that fans are hoping to see from the service by way of improvements once Nintendo moves into its next generation of hardware, so it should be interesting to see how that pans out in the months ahead.

Applicants can register on this website from October 10th, 8 PM PT, to October 15th, 7:59 PM. They must be 18 years old and have a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. If the total number of participants exceeds a certain amount, those living in Japan will be selected via a raffle.

Outside Japan, the playtest is available to the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. It’s first come, first serve, so apply as quickly as possible once the website goes live. Upon entry, testers will download specific Nintendo Switch software. There’s no information on what the new feature could be, but stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

We will be performing a test related to a new feature for #NintendoSwitchOnline on #NintendoSwitch. Starting 8:00 AM PT on Oct. 10, existing Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members will be able to apply to participate on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/PKAz20oD5G

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 9, 2024