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Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 aren't coming to Nintendo Switch 2 Online after all, if you believe Nintendo: "We apologize for any confusion"

News
By Kaan Serin published 30 January 2026

The GameCube hits might be benched for a while longer

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Holding the Nintendo Switch 2
(Image credit: Future / Nintendo)
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Walmart seemingly made a whoopsie earlier this week by posting a promotional image for Nintendo Switch Online's retro game collection that included Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Pikmin 2, two games that are not, in fact, playable or announced for the service at the moment. Now, Nintendo says the whoopsie was actually made on its end for accidentally giving Walmart an image with games it doesn't currently intend on adding to NSO.

Walmart's original leak had the two GameCube classics listed alongside games that are already available on the subscription, including Mario Kart 64, Star Fox, and Tetris.

Nintendo's also had a knack for dropping games into its NSO GameCube selection before getting around to the ones that it's already promised (where's Super Mario Sunshine, Nintendo?), so fans took it as soft confirmation.

Promo poster for Nintendo Switch Online's retro game selection, which lists various box art for classic games in the subscription, including Mario Kart 64 and the allegedly incorrect listing of Metroid Prime 2.

(Image credit: Walmart/Nintendo)

Nintendo has now provided a statement to IGN, claiming that the image "incorrectly" featured games that it has no plans to bring to NSO.

"We recently provided a retailer with an image of Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics titles that incorrectly included games that are not planned for release at this time. The image has been removed, and we apologize for any confusion."

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  • Twilight Princess GameCube screenshot of Link facing an enemy with sword and shield drawn Don't get too excited over Nintendo's mysterious "Nintendo Switch 2: Wii Remote" page – it's probably just a glitch
  • Nintendo Switch 2 console on a stand against a red background Nintendo doesn't want Switch 2 eShop to "become a giant slop fest," New Blood CEO claims

Whether you interpret Nintendo's comment as "not happening" or "not happening... right now" is another question, though. Metroid Prime 2 is undoubtedly one of the console's best games, and it would be weird for Samus' sequel not to come to the service at some point, especially as a follow-up to Metroid Prime Remastered and last year's Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Pikmin 2 is a slightly different case since that game is actually available to buy as is on the eShop right now, alongside the series' first game. Although it wouldn't be unheard of for Nintendo to add a game to NSO while having another purchasable version on its store. Link's Awakening comes to mind, for example.

After superhero hit Dispatch arrives on Switch with mandatory censorship, Nintendo says don't blame us: "Nintendo does not make changes to partner content"

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Kaan Serin
Kaan Serin
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Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

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