It was recently leaked that Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2 could be heading to Nintendo Switch Online's GameCube collection. However, Nintendo has just issued an official statement regarding the leak, denying that either game is planned for release on Switch Online at this time.
A major selling point of the Nintendo Switch 2 upon its June 2025 release was that it added an exclusive GameCube collection to Nintendo Switch Online. At launch, just three classic GameCube titles came to Switch Online, those being F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Soulcalibur 2. Over the last seven months, another five games have been added to Switch Online's GameCube library, including heavy hitters like Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and most recently, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.
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Nintendo Denies That Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 Are Coming to Nintendo Switch Online
On January 27, Walmart posted a new image on its website advertising Nintendo Switch Online. Along with classic titles that are already available on the service, like Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Tetris, the promotional image included Pikmin 2 and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, two GameCube games that haven't come to Nintendo Switch Online yet, and haven't been confirmed to appear on the service in the future.
A day later, Nintendo issued an official statement to IGN regarding the Walmart leak. A Nintendo of America spokesperson told IGN that the promotional image Walmart used did in fact come from Nintendo itself, but that the image provided "incorrectly included games that are not planned for release at this time." The Nintendo spokesperson also stated that image has been removed from Walmart's website, and that the company apologizes for any confusion. While this obviously means that Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2 won't be coming to Nintendo Switch Online immediately, it doesn't mean that they couldn't arrive on the subscription service later down the line.
Though Nintendo's official statement on this GameCube Switch Online leak might be disheartening for those who were hoping to play Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 on their Nintendo Switch 2, there are some out there who might be breathing a sigh of relief. When this Walmart leak first surfaced, a sizable group of Nintendo fans theorized that Metroid Prime 2's potential place in Switch Online's Classics library would mean that a full remake of the GameCube sequel in the vein of Metroid Prime Remastered would no longer be something Nintendo was possibly interested in. With Nintendo confirming that Metroid Prime 2 isn't heading to Switch Online anytime soon, some fans might take it to mean that a Metroid Prime 2 remake could be back on the cards.
Upon its announcement back in April 2025, Nintendo confirmed that Pokemon Colosseum, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and Super Mario Sunshine would be coming to Nintendo Switch Online's GameCube collection "in the future." Fans are still waiting for these three games to be added. It's likely that fans will find out more about the future of Nintendo Switch Online during the next general Nintendo Direct. While Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed the date of the next Direct, it has frequently hosted one in early February, and a recent report from industry insider Nate The Hate has claimed that a Nintendo Direct could be taking place in the opening week of February, likely on Thursday, February 5. Though, Nate The Hate did state that they don't know if the February Nintendo Direct will be a general one or some kind of Partner Showcase.
- Released
- November 15, 2004
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Retro Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Heavily modified Metroid Prime engine
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Metroidvania
