Walmart’s online storefront prominently highlights the Nintendo brand, offering shoppers a wide array of Nintendo products, from consoles and accessories to digital and physical game purchases.
Among these offerings, Walmart has also dedicated a section to promoting Nintendo Switch Online memberships, available through both physical cards and digital codes for immediate activation.
Recently, the retailer’s website drew attention from fans when a newly updated banner ad appeared.
This banner, intended to advertise Nintendo’s growing Switch Online catalogue, featured artwork for two classic GameCube games: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2.
What makes this notable is that neither title has been officially announced for Nintendo Switch Online, nor have they appeared in any recent Nintendo Direct presentations or eShop updates.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, originally developed by Retro Studios and released in 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube, is widely regarded as a landmark action-adventure title.
Its predecessor, Metroid Prime, received a critically acclaimed remaster for the Nintendo Switch in early 2023, but a full trilogy remaster, including Prime 2: Echoes and Prime 3: Corruption, has not yet materialized—despite persistent fan interest and industry rumors.
Pikmin 2, another GameCube classic from the legendary studio Nintendo EAD, also appeared in Walmart’s promotional materials.
Fans may recall that Pikmin 2 is already available to purchase individually on Nintendo Switch, offered on the eShop for $29.99/£24.99, bringing renewed interest to the franchise.
Its inclusion on a Nintendo Switch Online banner suggests further promotion of the game, but at present, the Switch Online service has not added Pikmin 2 to its catalog.
A Walmart representative declined to provide specific details regarding the banner’s curation, but emphasized that their online advertisements are designed to highlight Nintendo Switch Online’s growing library and available membership options.
Nintendo has not issued any official comment regarding the appearance of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes or Pikmin 2 in Walmart’s marketing materials.
Past surprises, such as the addition of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to Switch Online without its HD version being ported from Wii U, demonstrate Nintendo’s unpredictability in expanding its online roster.
As it stands, the presence of these GameCube titles in prominent advertising has sparked speculation within the gaming community but does not constitute an official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo.
For now, Nintendo Switch users eager to see new titles join the Switch Online library will have to wait for further announcements, potentially during future Nintendo Direct broadcasts or eShop updates.
Until then, the buzz generated by Walmart’s banner serves as a reminder of the ongoing demand for classic Nintendo experiences on modern hardware.
Among these offerings, Walmart has also dedicated a section to promoting Nintendo Switch Online memberships, available through both physical cards and digital codes for immediate activation.
Recently, the retailer’s website drew attention from fans when a newly updated banner ad appeared.
This banner, intended to advertise Nintendo’s growing Switch Online catalogue, featured artwork for two classic GameCube games: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2.
What makes this notable is that neither title has been officially announced for Nintendo Switch Online, nor have they appeared in any recent Nintendo Direct presentations or eShop updates.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, originally developed by Retro Studios and released in 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube, is widely regarded as a landmark action-adventure title.
Its predecessor, Metroid Prime, received a critically acclaimed remaster for the Nintendo Switch in early 2023, but a full trilogy remaster, including Prime 2: Echoes and Prime 3: Corruption, has not yet materialized—despite persistent fan interest and industry rumors.
Pikmin 2, another GameCube classic from the legendary studio Nintendo EAD, also appeared in Walmart’s promotional materials.
Fans may recall that Pikmin 2 is already available to purchase individually on Nintendo Switch, offered on the eShop for $29.99/£24.99, bringing renewed interest to the franchise.
Its inclusion on a Nintendo Switch Online banner suggests further promotion of the game, but at present, the Switch Online service has not added Pikmin 2 to its catalog.
A Walmart representative declined to provide specific details regarding the banner’s curation, but emphasized that their online advertisements are designed to highlight Nintendo Switch Online’s growing library and available membership options.
Nintendo has not issued any official comment regarding the appearance of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes or Pikmin 2 in Walmart’s marketing materials.
Past surprises, such as the addition of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to Switch Online without its HD version being ported from Wii U, demonstrate Nintendo’s unpredictability in expanding its online roster.
As it stands, the presence of these GameCube titles in prominent advertising has sparked speculation within the gaming community but does not constitute an official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo.
For now, Nintendo Switch users eager to see new titles join the Switch Online library will have to wait for further announcements, potentially during future Nintendo Direct broadcasts or eShop updates.
Until then, the buzz generated by Walmart’s banner serves as a reminder of the ongoing demand for classic Nintendo experiences on modern hardware.
