Nintendo has officially announced that the new GameCube controller for Nintendo Switch 2 will only be compatible with GameCube games available through the “Nintendo GameCube: Nintendo Classics” service. This marks a significant departure from previous retro controllers released for the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo says the Switch 2 GameCube controller is only compatible with the GameCube app, implying it can't be used for other Switch or Switch 2 titles.https://t.co/J7aTQ76UTa pic.twitter.com/HWYEHIZ0sD
— VGC (@VGC_News) April 9, 2025
Unlike earlier retro controllers designed for Nintendo Switch Online’s classic game libraries—which could be used with other Switch software despite having fewer buttons—the GameCube controller for Switch 2 will be strictly limited to GameCube titles. Previous controllers like those for NES, SNES, Mega Drive, and Nintendo 64 were recognized by the console as Pro Controllers, allowing them to be used with various games depending on their button configurations.
In theory, the GameCube controller could have been compatible with games that don’t require pressing in the L/R sticks, as it has all other necessary buttons. However, Nintendo has decided not to provide this option.
The “Nintendo GameCube: Nintendo Classics” library will launch with the Switch 2, featuring three titles available from day one: “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,” “SoulCalibur 2,” and “F-Zero GX”. These games will offer enhanced visuals, higher resolution, customizable controls, and online multiplayer support. Additional GameCube titles will be added to the service “a little later,” as revealed during a Nintendo Treehouse: Live broadcast.
This limitation means that even if a new Super Smash Bros. game is released for Switch 2 in the future, players won’t be able to use this GameCube controller with it, despite the controller’s popularity among Smash players. The controller is specifically labeled as being “exclusively for Nintendo GameCube Nintendo Classics” in promotional materials.
The Nintendo GameCube controller for Switch 2 is currently available for purchase through the My Nintendo Store, where it’s clearly marketed as being exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube Classics service.
