Switch 2 Gamers Want Choice Over GameCube Downloads

Nintendo faces pressure to allow selective downloads in its popular NSO GameCube app.

Gamers are clamoring for more control over their storage on the Switch 2, particularly when it comes to Nintendo Switch Online’s (NSO) GameCube offerings, as the app’s file size increases.

Storage Space Concerns Rise

The arrival of Switch 2 brought the long-awaited addition of GameCube games via NSO. A new controller enhances the experience for titles like Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur II. However, the larger game sizes on Switch 2, such as Cyberpunk at 59.4GB, have intensified storage concerns.

Even with a 1TB card, fitting every game onto the system is a challenge. Gamers must carefully select what to keep, especially with upcoming titles like WWE 2K25, reportedly requiring 73.2GB. For comparison, the entire Game Boy library consumes only 134MB.

Individual Downloads: A Solution?

Currently, the GameCube app requires 6GB, increased from 5.1GB after Super Mario Strikers was added. Given that GameCube discs held nearly 1.5GB of data, individual games are unlikely to exceed that size, making selective downloads a viable solution.

A poll showed that a significant 45.8% of voters want individual game downloads to maximize available memory. The app’s size will only grow as more games get added; as of today, Nintendo has released sixteen titles across all of its NSO platforms this year (Nintendo.com).

Dreaming of Wii Games

The possibility of Wii games joining Nintendo Classics looms, but their larger file sizes would exacerbate the storage problem. Having the ability to choose which games to keep installed would alleviate the memory burden for players. Is the arrival of Wave Race imminent?