Will Nintendo Switch 2 Add GameCube and Wii Games to NSO?

With the next Nintendo Direct focusing on Switch 2, it’s easy to look back at last week’s Direct and be disappointed. There were a couple of interesting games revealed, but fans wanted to see those Wii U ports of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Others were hoping to see Metroid Prime 2 and 3 get re-released to bridge the gap between Prime Remastered and Prime 4: Beyond.

Although these games don’t seem likely for a Switch 1 release, a post from insider NateTheHate has fans hoping for GameCube and Wii games on the Switch 2’s NSO plan.

NateTheHate replied to a fan on X who was asking about Metroid Prime 2 and 3 getting released on the Switch’s successor. The insider didn’t mince words, saying they wouldn’t expect to see these games re-released unless it was on Nintendo Switch Online. When another fan asked if they should expect the same thing for Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, he said “yes.”

It’s a shame that we aren’t getting these ports since the Switch was home to plenty of Wii and Wii U remasters alike. However, the Switch 2 having Gamecube and Wii games on NSO would be a great addition to the console, especially for nostalgic fans. These same fans also hope that the first Switch gets GameCube and Wii games on NSO, but that seems unlikely.

Plenty of great Nintendo games are stuck on GameCube and Wii. Aside from the Metroid and Zelda games mentioned previously, there’s also Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Star Fox: Assault, and Battalion Wars, among others. Being able to play these games as part of the company’s NSO plan would be a steal, assuming these titles are still part of the $50 NSO + Expansion Pack.

Since Nintendo still has plans to update NSO for Switch 2, we wouldn’t be too surprised if they end up adding GameCube and Wii games to their online subscription. While the company could keep pumping up remakes like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which requires additional work, and it would be easier to make these older games playable on the new system.

Let’s hope that the Switch 2 will have improved NSO support, especially if it leads to those GameCube and Wii games. The last thing gamers need is more obscure games for NES and SNES.