Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack Anniversary Wish List

Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack Anniversary Wish List

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of gaming experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the expansion pack for Nintendo Switch Online has been a game-changer, literally and figuratively! The thought of GameCube games finally making their way to the Switch is nothing short of exhilarating. I still remember spending countless hours on those iconic titles like “Super Mario Sunshine” and “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker”. The prospect of revisiting these classics on my trusty Nintendo Switch is a dream come true!


This year marks the 6th anniversary of the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online service, which debuted about a year and a half after the release of the Nintendo Switch on September 18, 2018. Since its initial launch, the service has grown, with significant expansion coming from the Expansion Pack tier. This premium option offers additional features to players but comes at a slightly higher cost. A recent email from Nintendo hinting at something exciting in connection with the Expansion Pack’s third anniversary on October 25 has fans speculating about what might be in store, and there are several directions the community hopes Nintendo will take the service.

As a dedicated Nintendo fan, I can’t help but notice that the only method we have to enjoy the classic game collections from Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and Nintendo 64 on our beloved Switch is through the Expansion Pack tier of Nintendo Switch Online. With this in mind, it’s not hard to speculate that Nintendo’s recent unexpected announcement might be related to updates or additions for these classic console game collections. However, it could also mean something fans have been eagerly anticipating for a while – perhaps the long-awaited arrival of GameCube or Nintendo DS games on the Switch!

What the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Service Needs

GameCube Games Could Finally Come to the Switch

For years, speculation about GameCube games appearing on the Nintendo Switch has circulated since its release. However, with whispers of the Switch’s successor emerging in 2025, this seems like a perfect opportunity for that wish to come true. Adding fuel to the fire is recent gossip hinting at Nintendo working on something related to the GameCube controller. Given Nintendo’s history of releasing Switch-compatible controllers and enhancing its classic game library, it wouldn’t be surprising if they did the same with GameCube games and the beloved GameCube controller for a special Expansion Pack tier anniversary surprise.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I find myself eagerly anticipating the addition of GameCube games to the Nintendo Switch Online service. When considering previous console launches, we can draw insights from the initial Expansion Pack tier launch on October 25, 2021, which introduced 9 Nintendo 64 and 15 Sega Genesis titles. Since the GameCube is a first-party console, we could expect the GameCube library to debut with anywhere between 5 to 10 games. Among the potential candidates for these first releases are popular first-party games that I’ve grown fond of over the years and hope to revisit on my Nintendo Switch:

  • The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  • Luigi’s Mansion
  • Super Mario Sunshine
  • Pikmin/Pikmin 2
  • Super Smash Bros. Melee
  • Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

The Switch Could Finally Be Getting Nintendo DS Titles

In much the same way, it is possible for players to experience games from a different Nintendo console on the Switch, through Nintendo DS emulation. The recent introduction of the Castlevania Dominus Collection on Switch suggests that the dual screens of the DS can be effectively replicated on this console. Given that the DS boasts one of the largest libraries among any Nintendo device, it seems fitting for some of its classic titles to migrate over to the Nintendo Switch, even before the launch of the Switch’s next-generation model. This could hint at the possibility of 3DS emulation on the Switch 2 in the future.

Expansion of Cloud Gaming Features, Play Testing, and Other Online Perks

Another interpretation is that the anniversary announcement might not pertain to the classic game libraries of Nintendo Switch Online but rather enhancements to less-utilized features. Sales data for cloud-streamed games on the Switch suggest that many users have yet to try these titles, so an update focusing on improving the Switch’s cloud infrastructure around the same time as the Expansion Pack anniversary could encourage existing subscribers to experiment with cloud streaming on their console.

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2024-10-25 01:06