Nintendo to bring GameCube games to Switch - Report
Sources have confirmed to Eurogamer that Switch's Virtual Console will let you play Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee and more
GameCube wasn't the most successful Nintendo console, selling under 22 million units globally, but it certainly had its fair share of software beloved by fans. Now, according to several sources that have confirmed the news to our sister site Eurogamer, Switch owners will be able to relive some of GameCube's classics via the Virtual Console on the console/portable hybrid launching next year.
Three titles - Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee. - have been tested and confirmed so far. Animal Crossing is being tested as well. The report also suggests that there should be an upgrade program for owners of the Switch who have earlier purchases of Virtual Console NES games, so that their titles can be playable on the Switch without having to be bought again at full price. Interestingly, sources have indicated that Switch's Virtual Console is being engineered by Nintendo European Research and Development, which is the same studio that worked on the NES Mini console, a system that's been quickly selling out across retailers this holiday shopping season.
With the Switch's increased horsepower over the Wii U, emulating GameCube classics on Virtual Console should be far easier to do now, and Nintendo is reportedly considering Switch support for the Wii U's GameCube controller adaptor peripheral too.
Nintendo has yet to disclose all the details around the Switch and its launch plans. The console is planned for release next March, and Nintendo is planning another event in January to reveal new details. After the lackluster performance of the Wii U, excitement for Nintendo products is once again building, in part thanks to Pokemon (on mobile and 3DS) and the impending launch of Super Mario Run on smartphones. DFC Intelligence recently raised its Switch forecast for next year, but David Cole cautioned, "We are still concerned that Nintendo management is not really prepared to take full advantage of that good will. They have really struggled with overall strategy and product launches the past few years."