Nintendo Switch 2 Adds GameCube Classics to Nintendo Switch Online—The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Included at Launch

Nintendo Switch 2 Adds GameCube Classics to Nintendo Switch Online—The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Included at Launch Nintendo continues to fuel anticipation for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 by expanding its retro gaming library.

In a recent Nintendo Switch 2 presentation, the company unveiled a slate of new features, third-party partnerships, and—most notably—the addition of a GameCube library to the Nintendo Switch Online service.

Fans of classic Nintendo titles can look forward to playing GameCube favorites directly on the new hardware when it launches. A headline announcement from the event was the confirmation that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, originally released for the GameCube in 2002, will be one of the flagship titles available in the GameCube section of Nintendo Switch Online at launch.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker has remained a fan-favorite due to its distinct cel-shaded art style, acclaimed storytelling, and innovative gameplay mechanics.

While an HD remaster was previously released for Wii U in 2013, questions arose among the gaming community about whether this HD version might also arrive on Nintendo Switch 2. During a recent episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily, host Tim Gettys recounted his interaction with a Nintendo representative at a closed Switch 2 press event.

Gettys explained that he directly asked whether including The Wind Waker in the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube library meant the HD port would not be considered for a future release.

The Nintendo representative clarified, "No, all options are on the table," emphasizing that the presence of one version does not preclude additional options in the future.

This mirrors Nintendo’s approach with other franchises, where original releases and remasters have coexisted in the Nintendo Switch ecosystem. Throughout the Nintendo Switch’s era, fans have consistently requested Wii U classics—such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD—to be ported to newer hardware.

While the original version of The Wind Waker will launch as part of Nintendo Switch Online’s initial GameCube library this June, Nintendo’s response keeps the possibility for a future HD re-release alive.

Notably, this strategy aligns with previous instances in which titles were made available both as part of the online subscription library and as standalone releases or enhanced ports. For now, Nintendo Switch 2 owners and newcomers to the Zelda franchise can anticipate revisiting the oceanic adventure of Link in The Wind Waker when the GameCube library arrives alongside the upcoming console this June.

This expansion not only enhances the Nintendo Switch Online service’s value, but it also further cements Nintendo’s commitment to preserving and celebrating its game development legacy across generations.

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