Not under the Virtual Console name. Nintendo says it has no current plans to bring classic games together under that banner. Instead, Switch 2 has a similar-in-spirit offering: the Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics app, a GameCube library included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Is Nintendo bringing back Virtual Console?
No. “Virtual Console” is not the official name of the Switch 2 service, and Nintendo says: “There are currently no plans to bring classic games together under the Virtual Console banner as has been done on other Nintendo systems.” Nintendo’s Nintendo Classics FAQ does not rule out classic games appearing in other ways, such as through the eShop or packaged collections. It does mean the new GameCube library should not be mistaken for an announced return of the old Virtual Console storefront.
What is Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics?
It is a Switch 2-exclusive app that gives eligible subscribers access to a collection of GameCube games. Nintendo’s UK product page lists June 5, 2025 as its release date. The collection is part of Nintendo Switch Online, rather than a storefront where subscribers buy each service game individually.
Which membership do you need?
Access requires an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Nintendo’s North American membership table places GameCube Classics in both the individual and family Expansion Pack memberships—not the standard individual or family memberships. Check Nintendo’s membership page for the relevant plan options. Membership libraries remain available only while the account has an active eligible membership; Nintendo says it has no plans to sell these service games individually.
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Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle | $568.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $619.00 | Buy on Amazon |
How GameCube fits into Nintendo Classics
Nintendo Classics is a group of console-specific game libraries within Nintendo Switch Online. Standard membership includes NES, Super NES and Game Boy libraries. Expansion Pack membership adds Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, Game Boy Advance, GameCube and Virtual Boy collections. GameCube games in this service are playable only on Switch 2.
What games are in the GameCube library?
Nintendo’s UK GameCube Classics page listed the following titles when accessed: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-ZERO GX, SOULCALIBUR II, Mario Smash Football, Chibi-Robo!, Luigi’s Mansion, Wario World, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Super Mario Sunshine and Star Fox Adventures. That is the list on the cited regional page, not a promise that every region has the same lineup or that the list will remain unchanged.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Nintendo describes the titles as reproductions for Switch 2 and cautions that performance and presentation can differ from the original releases. They should not be assumed to behave or look exactly as they did on original GameCube hardware.
Can you play offline, and what online features are included?
Offline play
You can play the games offline, but your account must have an active membership and the system must connect to the internet to verify that membership at least once every seven days. Offline access is therefore not permanent access to games independent of the subscription.
Rank #2
- The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***
Playing with friends
Games that support multiplayer can be played online competitively or cooperatively. Nintendo also describes features that let friends watch a single-player session and pass the controller. Online play is with friends, not random matchmaking. On Switch 2, GameChat can provide voice or video chat while sharing screens or playing multiplayer. The precise options depend on the game and feature being used.
Will Nintendo add more games on a regular schedule?
Nintendo says each classic-games library will continue to grow, but it has not set a schedule for additions. There is no official basis for expecting monthly releases or any particular cadence, so treat future additions as unannounced until Nintendo confirms them.
Rank #3
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- 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
- 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
- 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
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Do you need a GameCube controller?
No controller requirement is stated for accessing the library. Nintendo offers a dedicated wireless GameCube controller for playing these classics and notes that it has a C Button for GameChat. It is an optional accessory; the direct platform requirement is a Nintendo Switch 2, since the GameCube Classics app is exclusive to that system.
How this differs from the old Virtual Console model
The useful distinction is not simply old games versus new hardware. Virtual Console was Nintendo’s name for classic-game offerings on earlier systems; the Switch 2 GameCube collection is one library within a continuing subscription service. The practical differences are:
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- How you get games: GameCube Classics is included with Expansion Pack membership, not sold title by title as part of this service.
- Where you can play: This GameCube app is exclusive to Switch 2.
- Membership checks: You need an active eligible subscription, with an online verification at least every seven days for offline play.
- New additions: Nintendo says the library will grow but has announced no release cadence.
Older games may still become available through other routes, including the eShop or packaged collections; that is separate from a restoration of the Virtual Console brand.
Quick Recap
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