UPDATE: |Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller is available to pre-order – with a catch News

You’ll need to meet certain criteria to be able to pre-order the coveted Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller

One of the most exciting reveals about the Nintendo Switch 2 was that it would let players access a library of GameCube games via the Switch Online Plus Expansion Pack subscription. Including the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, Luigi’s Mansion and F-Zero GX, players can relive the glory days of the early 2000’s with upscaled versions of these Nintendo classics – there’s even a CRT overscan feature to make the graphics look especially nostalgic.

To make playing these games as authentic as possible, Nintendo is releasing an updated version of the GameCube controller alongside the Switch 2. Constructed in almost the same way as the original but adding in modern comforts like a Bluetooth connection and USB C charging, it’s the ultimate way to catch up on the game’s that we were playing over 20 years ago for a starting price of £58.99.

Pre-orders for the Switch 2 GameCube controller have just gone live at the My Nintendo Store, but there’s a pretty big catch that will prevent a chunk of gamers from putting in a pre-order just yet. Nintendo is restricting orders to those who have a paid Nintendo Online subscription.

That means that unless you’re paying for the £17.99 per year rolling cost, you won’t be able to log in and place an order. This is likely to reduce scalpers and ensure that players who are genuine Nintendo fans will be able to purchase the controller first, as it was previously only available to pre-order by invite.

The good news is that if you really want to pre-order the GameCube controller, you don’t need to shell out a whole lot extra. One month of Nintendo Switch Online will set you back £3.49, or £1.50 per month if you opt for the £17.99 option.

Given that the GameCube games you’ll be playing will be locked behind the Switch Online Plus Expansion Pass tier, it’s worth considering picking up a year’s subscription to that so you have 10 months of games ready to go when you first boot up your Switch 2. Nintendo sells it for £34.99 for the year, but you can get it considerably cheaper at CDKeys for £25.49.

Having used the GameCube controller myself at the Nintendo Switch 2 event in London earlier this month, it’s certainly a worthy pickup if you’re considering playing plenty of GameCube games. The controls feels just as they did back in the day with additional creature comforts added for us more modern gamers.

For example, game controls are now customisable so you can update them to make controlling unwieldy characters a little more manageable. In Zelda: Windwaker, I was able to invert my camera axis which I was told wasn’t something you could do back in the day.

I also tried my hand at F-Zero GX, a fast paced sci-fi racer that seemed ahead of its time. It ran at a smooth 60fps the whole time, with the only disappointing thing about it being my abysmal performance at it.

The My Nintendo Store is currently the only place you can pre-order the GameCube controller for Nintendo Switch Online. We’ll update you with more retailers if the likes of Amazon, Very and Smyths end up stocking it.

Still looking to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2? Here are the links to keep an eye on in case any further stock comes through: