Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Secrets Revealed

Nintendo has cleverly hidden several nostalgic GameCube Easter eggs within the new Switch 2 console, as eagle-eyed fans have discovered.

With the launch of Nintendo's latest hardware, gamers can finally experience GameCube classics through Nintendo Switch Online. However, players quickly noticed something was absent when booting these throwback titles - the console's beloved startup animation.

For those who owned the distinctive purple console, the unforgettable sight of the GameCube logo gracefully unfolding across the screen will be forever etched in their memories. Surprisingly, Nintendo has included this cherished sequence after all - though they've kept the activation method a hidden secret.

Credit goes to Spawn Wave for uncovering that holding any direction on the Switch 2's control stick while launching the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube app triggers the nostalgic startup animation. The result? A wave of pure nostalgia.

But this isn't just a simple port - Nintendo has upgraded the animation to crisp 4K resolution, matching the polished version shown during this year's Switch 2 Direct presentation when GameCube support was first announced.

IGN's testing revealed an additional hidden feature: by tilting the control stick and holding R (timed with the appearance of the '2' in the app logo), players can activate the secondary GameCube startup sound effect originally triggered by the Z button.

The discovery has sparked speculation among fans about whether Nintendo included the rarest third startup sequence - previously activated by pressing Z on four connected GameCube controllers simultaneously.

Nintendo Direct: Switch 2 GameCube Support

The weekend brought another revelation - the new wireless GameCube controllers designed for Switch 2 now feature built-in gyro controls, expanding gameplay possibilities for retro titles.

Currently, the Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics collection offers a modest selection including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur II. Nintendo has confirmed fan favorites like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness will join the lineup, though specific release dates remain unannounced.