Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Leak Turns Out To Be a Disappointing Mistake
Nintendo Switch Online players got excited when they saw an advertisement on Walmart’s website that included the cover art from Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2, two GameCube classics that aren’t yet included in Nintendo Switch Online’s retro game collections. This got people thinking that those two games would soon be added to Nintendo Switch Online. Well, now they can be disappointed, because Nintendo has issued a devastating statement about that.
Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 on Nintendo Switch Online?
On the Walmart website’s Nintendo page, there was an image (which has since been removed) that advertised the Nintendo Switch Online service. Sharp-eyed viewers noticed that it included the box art for the GameCube classics, Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2, neither of which are currently included in the Nintendo Switch Online service. As such, people thought that Walmart had leaked the next games that would be coming to Nintendo Switch Online. Since Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 are both highly acclaimed games, fans were excited.
Well, now the fans are disappointed. Nintendo released a statement to IGN, stating that the games are not coming to Nintendo Switch Online. A Nintendo of America spokesperson told IGN, “We recently provided a retailer with an image of Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics titles that incorrectly included games that are not planned for release at this time. The image has since been removed, and we apologize for any confusion.”
Of course, this begs the question of how this happened in the first place. Why would Nintendo send Walmart an image that includes box art from games that weren’t planned for any release on Nintendo Switch Online? Perhaps fans shouldn’t give up hope. We might not get Metroid Prime 2 or Pikmin 2 right now, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get them eventually. Nintendo Switch Online is always adding new games, and the GameCube collection is only a little more than six months old, having debuted in June with the Nintendo Switch 2.
Should We Believe Leaks?
This isn’t the first time a supposed Nintendo Switch Online link has failed to deliver. Way back in May, Nintendo released a video advertising new features for the Nintendo 64 NSO collection. An image in the video contained blurred box art for several games, including five games that weren’t yet on Nintendo Switch Online when the video was released. The games were Donkey Kong 64, Forsaken 64, Glover, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, and Super Smash Bros.
Well, Forsaken 64 and Rayman 2 have since been added to NSO, but Donkey Kong 64, Glover, and Super Smash Bros. are nowhere to be seen, even more than six months later. However, once again, we shouldn’t dismiss the leak as being incorrect. Nintendo is very gradual at releasing games on Nintendo Switch Online, often releasing only one or two games at a time. As such, it may only be a matter of time before we can play Donkey Kong 64, Glover, and Super Smash Bros. on the Switch and Switch 2.
Will We Ever See Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 on NSO?
Although there is always hope, there are some things that might hinder these two games from being added to the collection. For one thing, a bundle of Pikmin 1 and 2 is currently available to be purchased for the Switch, and Switch games can be played on the Switch 2. Nintendo might be hesitant to add either Pikmin game to Nintendo Switch Online while that bundle is still available.
In addition, fans have hoped that Nintendo would release a remaster of Metroid Prime 2 ever since they remastered the first Metroid Prime game. If Nintendo is planning such a remaster, they might not want to release the original version on NSO. However, anything is possible. In any case, the NSO collection is sure to expand as time passes.
