3 reasons the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the perfect time for Nintendo to add GameCube to NSO

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the highly anticipated successor to the Nintendo Switch. Many have been wondering what functionality the next console will have and, more importantly, what games they will be able to play on it. There is no denying that Nintendo has had many popular titles over the years, and some of those have been ported over to Nintendo Switch Online or NSO. Despite adding games from the original NES and Super NES, Nintendo has yet to add any games to NSO that were on its arguably most popular console, the GameCube. Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is on the way, it is the perfect time for Nintendo to finally stop holding out and add the GameCube to NSO.

3 Bring in more interest

To a console that looks bland

After the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, the biggest criticism that Nintendo received was that the console looked bland. Users took the comment section of the trailer to speak about how the console wasn't that much of an upgrade from its predecessor. With an apparent lack of interest in the Switch 2, now would be the perfect time for Nintendo to consider going back in time and bringing back the GameCube.

Nostalgia serves as a powerful selling point. Thanks to NES and Super NES games being on NSO — among other things, Nintendo has seen the online subscription service gain over 38 million users as of a statement released in 2024. There's obviously a demand for the service, and to increase the number of users further, Nintendo could release GameCube games to give more to users who buy into it each year.

2 It makes sense

The service has other consoles

Currently, you can play games from across multiple eras if you have Nintendo Switch Online. The systems included on NSO are NES, Super NES, Game Boy, N64, and Game Boy Advance. From all of these consoles, there are over 100 titles that you can play if you subscribe to the service. That is more games than Nintendo has developed for the system since its release.

The last system to be added to the online service was the Game Boy Advance, released in June 2001. Shortly after this handheld system was released, the home console known as the GameCube was released in September. Now that we have all the other preceding consoles, the GameCube is the next logical step for NSO releases. After all, Nintendo has been going in sequential order for the releases. Of course, the games should be added in small groups at a time to prevent everyone from getting overwhelmed.

1 Capitalize on that niche following

The movement grows

There is no denying that the GameCube was not the most popular console ever made. It beat out other Nintendo systems such as the Wii-U but came nowhere close to the sales of other consoles such as the Nintendo DS or original Switch. For its time, it underperformed but has since gained a massive cult following. Many talk fondly of the console and the numerous games that it has.

Some of the most popular Nintendo titles that have ever been made found their original home on the GameCube. In terms of mainline Nintendo series, the GameCube has fan-favorites such as The Legends of Zelda: Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Kart Double Dash, and the original Animal Crossing. It is even the home of the original Luigi's Mansion title, which spawned two sequels. These games have seen massive increases in popularity over the years, and it is about time that fans are given the ability to play them once again.

Give fans what they want

When Nintendo first announced that older games would be coming to NSO, many fans rejoiced. After all, many gamers grew up with Nintendo consoles, stuck with them through the years, and have many fond memories of the games they played. When the limited library size was revealed, many were disappointed that they wouldn't have access to all the games they thought they would. Since then, fans have asked Nintendo to bring back more of the classics and make them easily accessible on the service.

Adding the GameCube lineup to NSO alongside the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 would help drive interest in the console, which has already been labeled as boring, but it would also give fans what they have been asking for over the years. The addition of the GameCube lineup would also give players access to over 600 more titles that are considered some of the best of the Nintendo mainline series. It is about time that Nintendo gave fans what they wanted and made the GameCube the next addition to NSO. After all, it is the next console in the lineup.