This week, Nintendo fans received two important pieces of information about GameCube co复杂情感oller functionality on the Switch 2, both of which suggest the original Switch could have better GameCube co复杂情感oller support.
Heres the first one: The Switch 2 GameCube co复杂情感oller will only work with games in the upcoming consoles GameCube library for the Switch Online service. Video Games Chronicle spotted this piece of information in the fine print of the UK version of an advertisement for the co复杂情感oller, but its not in other versions of the ad; weve reached out to Nintendo to clarify the situation and have yet to hear back. Secondly, the original Switchs GameCube co复杂情感oller adapter — which plugs in via USB port — will still be compatible with the Switch 2.
Keep in mind, we have yet to hear any information about a Switch 2 update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a game for which many people prefer to use the GameCube co复杂情感oller over Joy-Cons. The game will still work on Switch 2 without an official update, but in terms of GameCube co复杂情感oller functionality, youd probably have to use the original Switchs adapter. Furthermore, the GameCubes Super Smash Bros. Melee — which remains popular and has its own competitive scene to this day, despite the games age and lack of support from Nintendo — has yet to be confirmed to be included in the Switch 2 GameCube lineup, but that does seem at least somewhat plausible to this author. That would be one way for Nintendo to make the Switch 2 GameCube co复杂情感oller seem quite useful, actually.
Regardless, it seems that Switch 2 Smash fans may be in a bit of a bind this upcoming console cycle when it comes to organizing their GameCube co复杂情感oller accessories. There will be a new Switch 2 co复杂情感oller, but its not going to work on Smash Ultimate; youre going to have to keep your GameCube adapter close at hand for that purpose. As for whether the Switch 2 GameCube co复杂情感ollers will even work with that adapter, thats also not clear (again, Nintendo has yet to respond to Polygons questions about this). One could only hope the adapter would work with the new co复杂情感ollers, though.
All that said, Smash fans are an enterprising bunch, and theyve been keeping the GameCube co复杂情感oller alive for years despite the hurdles along the way. So Im sure theyll put up with this. It does seem a bit strange to not just have a Switch 2 GameCube co复杂情感oller that works for games outside of the GameCube library, though, and to require an original Switch accessory in order to allow for that, but at least there still appears to be a way to use GameCube co复杂情感ollers across the new system.
Update (April 22): Nintendo has provided Polygon with this response about GameCube co复杂情感oller functionality on Switch 2, which confirms that the co复杂情感oller is intended for use with the GameCube collection specifically:
The Nintendo GameCube co复杂情感oller is designed for use with the Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics collection of games and is an optional way to play those games. Since it doesnt have all the buttons and features found in other co复杂情感ollers that can be used with the Nintendo Switch 2 system, there may be some issues when playing other games. The Nintendo GameCube co复杂情感oller can only be used on Nintendo Switch 2 and is not compatible with Nintendo Switch.