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Nintendo finally expands Switch 2’s GameCube Classics with one of the best 3D Mario games
Nintendo will add Super Mario Sunshine to the Switch 2 GameCube Classics app on 13 August 2026, giving Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers access to a long-requested 3D Mario title. The release matters because the previous modern Switch version was sold only for a limited period as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, leaving many players without an official way to buy or play it.
The GameCube Classics version is an emulation of the original 2002 GameCube game, scaled for modern displays but without visual enhancements. It joins a library that launched with relatively few games and is included in the £49.99-per-year Expansion Pack tier, which also offers classic systems, selected DLC and Switch 2 upgrade packs.
In short
- Super Mario Sunshine reaches Switch 2 GameCube Classics on 13 August 2026.
- It restores official access after the limited 3D All-Stars release.
- The version emulates the original GameCube game without enhanced visuals.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Adding Super Mario Sunshine gives subscribers access to a much-requested game that has been difficult to play through official channels since its limited release in 3D All-Stars. Including it in the existing Expansion Pack could make the service more valuable and preserve a notable GameCube title for modern players.
The case against
A game arriving in a subscription catalogue is not the same as being able to buy and keep it, and players who want Sunshine alone may have to pay for a broader annual bundle. The emulated version also lacks visual enhancements, so subscribers may reasonably question whether this addition offers enough value, especially given the library’s relatively small starting selection.
Explained simply
Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to the Nintendo Switch released in 2025. GameCube Classics is part of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, a subscription service that costs £49.99 per year and gives access to retro games from Nintendo's GameCube era and other classic systems. The Expansion Pack also includes certain downloadable content and Switch 2 upgrades.
Super Mario Sunshine is a popular 3D platformer originally released for the GameCube in 2002. On modern Switch consoles, the game was previously only available as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a limited-time compilation that Nintendo discontinued in 2021, leaving many players without an official way to buy or play it afterwards. The GameCube Classics version emulates the original 2002 game, adapted for modern screens but without new visual improvements.