PART FIVE: NINTENDO GAMECUBE CLASSICS & FUTURE GAMES FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2

How can I play GameCube Games on Nintendo Switch 2?
If you are subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, you will get access to the Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics library. All games that support multiplayer will offer this for up to four players in both online and local multiplayer. The games will support a higher resolution and ‘clearer image quality’ than the original GameCube releases. For certain games you can enable a widescreen option or apply a CRT ‘retro’ screen filter.^[85]

What GameCube games can I play on Nintendo Switch 2?

The first three games in the library will be:
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
-  F-Zero GX
- Soul Calibur 2
With the latter two titles offering 4 player local and online support. These games will be available on the launch day of the Nintendo Switch 2, June 5th 2025.

More games have been confirmed to be released on Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics in the future.^[86] These titles are:

• Super Mario Sunshine
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
• Pokémon Colosseum
• Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
• Super Mario Strikers
• Chibi-Robo
• Luigi's Mansion
  

Will it be possible to use the Tingle Tuner on Nintendo Switch Online - Nintendo GameCube The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker?

Currently there is no confirmation whether games that supported the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance-GameCube Link Cable are supported via Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics. The Tingle Tuner was a device that provided additional features in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, such as showing a map, placing special Tingle bombs and finding additional hidden secrets. Based on earlier Nintendo Switch releases of Nintendo Classics, such as Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2 for the N64 this feature may be removed or inaccessible on Nintendo Switch 2. However, as the GameCube Controller Adapter is supported with Nintendo Switch 2 and the GameCube library it is physically possible to connect a Game Boy Advance through the Game Boy Advance-GameCube Link cable to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Will the Original Nintendo Switch continue to be supported after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2?

For the foreseeable future Nintendo will keep releasing software and updates for the Nintendo Switch. For 2026 it’s been confirmed that games like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream^[87] and Rhythm Heaven Groove^[88] will launch on the Nintendo Switch. Currently it has not been confirmed that either game will receive a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition as well.

Additionally, titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A will also release on the Nintendo Switch later this year. Third parties will also keep releasing titles, such as the slew of games revealed during the Nintendo Direct on March 27th 2025.[98]

In the past Nintendo has kept up with support for older systems such as the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS. Considering that over 150 million Nintendo Switch units have been sold^[89], it is to be expected that Nintendo will keep support up for the Nintendo Switch. However, expect major future titles to be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 as Nintendo is encouraging new users to buy this successor.

Will games that are available on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 feature crossplay?

At this time this is not confirmed by Nintendo. However, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games are bundles consisting of the original Nintendo Switch title and an upgrade pack with enhancements and sometimes new content. New content, such as new mouse control modes and CameraPlay in Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV can only be played with other Nintendo Switch 2 systems. The base game of Super Mario Party Jamboree is still compatible with Nintendo Switch (1), and is therefore assumed to be compatible with both systems.^[90]

Can I play Fortnite on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes, Fortnite will be available on Nintendo Switch 2 with a dedicated version for the system. This will use its enhanced performance for better graphical display and consistent framerates. The original Nintendo Switch 1 version of Fortnite is listed on the compatibility issue list^[91], so when playing Fortnite on the new system make sure you’re playing the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Fortnite. Fortnite will be available on the launch day of the Nintendo Switch 2, June 5th 2025.^[92]

Can I play Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2?
At this time, Minecraft has not been confirmed to receive a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version. However, the Nintendo Switch (1) version of Minecraft is compatible and playable on Nintendo Switch 2.

What games are available on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch?
We’ve comprised a full list of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch line-up that can be found here.^[93]

Will the Nintendo eShop be better on the Nintendo Switch 2?

According to Takuhiro Dohta, the director for Nintendo Switch 2, the increased performance of the new system allowed them to improve and run the eShop much smoother, even when displaying a lot of games. Additionally the eShop on Nintendo Switch 2 features a new menu called ‘Game Finds For You’ that features screenshots and watch short videos for games that might be interesting to the user. These suggestions will refresh every Saturday. Additional tabs on the eShop include ‘featured titles’, the users Wish Lists, ‘bestselling software’, ‘’recent releases’ and ‘coming soon’.^[94]