New update for GameCube app on Nintendo Switch 2

The GameCube app for Nintendo Switch 2 has received a new update, bringing the latest software version to 1.6.1. Added last year, the app is an exclusive offering for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. It’s worth noting that the app is only available on Nintendo Switch 2 and not on the original console.

Key features of the GameCube app

Since the GameCube app launched in June 2025, nine games have been released so far. Nintendo has brought over a number of popular titles from the era. One of the most recent additions is Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, which launched last month on Nintendo Switch 2. That marks an important first, as it is the first time the game has been released on another platform.

The predecessor to Pokémon XD, Pokémon Colosseum, has also been briefly mentioned in announcements, although there are currently few details available about its release on the GameCube app.

Update details

The latest update, 1.6.1, appears to focus mainly on fixing a bug in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness that previously exposed players to save data corruption and other technical issues. Nintendo acknowledged the problem, and the latest update appears to have resolved it.

Unfortunately, the update does not seem to add any new games to the lineup. Players hoping for a larger library of fan favorites such as the original Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime 2, or Super Smash Bros. Melee will be disappointed. Nintendo has so far added classic GameCube games cautiously, suggesting more additions could follow in the future, but no concrete timeline has been announced.

Why the GameCube app is appealing

Although the GameCube was not Nintendo’s most commercially successful console in its day, the app gives players a chance to revisit some of these overlooked classics without paying the exorbitant prices currently asked on the secondary market for GameCube titles. Some games can fetch more than $100 on sites like eBay, something many consumers are eager to avoid.

So far, the GameCube app has mainly focused on games published by Nintendo. One exception is Soulcalibur 2, which included Link as a playable character in the Nintendo version. Future expansions of the app to other third-party titles such as Skies of Arcadia Legends, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes remain a hopeful prospect for players.

Players can continue to look forward to future updates and more titles that may be added to the GameCube app, as Nintendo continues expanding the catalog for its Switch 2.