Metroid Prime 2 Remastered hopes fade as Walmart leaks reveal Pikmin 2 joining Nintendo Switch Online’s GameCube lineup.

Walmart has seemingly revealed that Pikmin 2 and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes are set to join the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube library.

The GameCube lineup for Nintendo Switch Online has been quite the rollercoaster. Initially, it was announced with a list of titles, but then Nintendo surprised everyone by adding Wario World, which wasn’t on the original list, before releasing classics like Super Mario Sunshine and the Pokémon games. Now, it seems that fans of Mario and Pokémon might have to wait even longer for their favorites.

As noted by users on a gaming subreddit and confirmed by another source, Walmart’s Nintendo page showcased an ad for Nintendo Switch Online. This ad featured a collage of game covers, including iconic titles like Super Mario 64, A Link to the Past, and Donkey Kong Country. Interestingly, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was accompanied by two other GameCube titles—Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2.

The inclusion of Metroid Prime 2 without its predecessor makes sense, especially since the original received a well-received remaster in 2023. However, the situation with Pikmin 2 is a bit more puzzling. In 2023, ahead of Pikmin 4’s launch, Nintendo released Pikmin 1+2 on Switch, which were enhanced versions with updated controls. It’s unusual for Nintendo to offer a game that is already available in a different format.

That said, it’s not entirely out of character for Nintendo. For instance, Link’s Awakening was available on the Game Boy app despite its 2019 remake, and both Super Mario 64 and Sunshine were included in Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Given that the titles on Nintendo Switch Online typically feature the original ROMs, it raises the question of whether the original product placements from Pikmin 2 will be included, especially since they were removed from the Pikmin 1+2 bundle.

PS5 architect Mark Cerny once described his experience with Pikmin on the GameCube as “transformative,” stating, “I’m a sucker when it comes to story.”