Nintendos Slow Rollout Of Classic Games Never Made Sense To Me Until Now

Though Mario Kart World may be Nintendo Switch 2's headlining attraction, the most alluring part of the system's launch lineup for Olds like me is its GameCube library. After more than 20 years, Nintendo has finally decided to crack open its vaults and bring some of GameCube's most-beloved titles to a modern console--the first time most of these games will be available officially since their original release.

For many, however, the excitement over GameCube titles was quickly tempered by the fact that a meager three are available at the outset--the thinnest selection any Switch Online classics library has launched with. But as frustrating as it may feel to have to wait for more games to hit the service, this methodical rollout has long been an intentional strategy on Nintendo's part, and it took me many years to understand and appreciate its benefits.

This slow release cadence is hardly exclusive to the Switch Online service. Ever since Nintendo first established its own digital storefront with the Wii Shop, the company has been deliberately measured when re-releasing its legacy titles. In the lead up to the Wii's launch, Nintendo touted its digital shop as a repository of classics--a place where players could easily purchase the best Nintendo games of yesteryear and play them alongside new releases on one system. And indeed, by the end of the Wii's life, more than 400 had made their way to the Wii Shop, giving Wii owners access to a wealth of beloved games from years past.