Yesterday, Nintendo of America took to X to make a long-awaited announcement. Super Mario Sunshine is officially heading to Nintendo Switch Online. The beloved GameCube classic drops on August 13. As a result, fans only have to wait less than two weeks to revisit Isle Delfino.
Dark days loom over Isle Delfino!
Clean up a polluted island with FLUDD at your side in Super Mario Sunshine, coming to Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2 for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members on Aug 13! pic.twitter.com/8j5iWvjnJz
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 31, 2026
However, players face specific hardware requirements. You must own the new Nintendo Switch 2 console to access GameCube titles. Furthermore, you need an active subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier.
Originally released in 2002, the game earned a massive 92 score on Metacritic. The 3D platformer features Mario using F.L.U.D.D. This talking robotic water backpack helps him clean up a polluted tropical paradise. Nintendo previously ported the game back in 2020. It appeared in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. That three-part bundle sparked controversy because Nintendo only offered it for a limited time.
Super Mario Sunshine Makes it to the Growing GameCube Library
Nintendo initially announced this release during the Switch 2 reveal event back in April 2025. Now, Super Mario Sunshine finally arrives as the tenth GameCube title to join the subscription service.
Since the console launched in June 2025, Nintendo has steadily built up the classic catalog. The initial launch lineup featured The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. Just a month later, Super Mario Strikers joined the roster. Before 2025 ended, the service added Chibi-Robo, Luigi’s Mansion, and Wario World. Meanwhile, over the last seven months, the library slowed down. It received only two updates, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness.
Lost Virtual Boy Titles Resurface
Alongside the GameCube news, Nintendo surprised fans with a major Virtual Boy update. Two brand-new additions will arrive on the service next week on August 4. Surprisingly, these titles are D-Hopper and Zero Racers. Both are fully completed games that never actually launched on the original Virtual Boy hardware.
D-Hopper, also known as Dragon Hopper, plays like a top-down Zelda adventure. Players control Dorin. This young dragon prince must escape the maze-like world of Faeron. On the other hand, Zero Racers delivers a fast-paced, futuristic racing experience. Developers based this lost title directly on the iconic F-Zero franchise.
