Nintendo Switch Now Supports Gamecube Controllers
Nintendo’s 4.0 Switch firmware update was a classic example of the company almost pleasing its fans but missing the basket. People asked for the ability to capture video and send it to social media (like Nintendo’s competition lets you do). Nintendo gave them thirty seconds of material to work with. People asked for the ability to transfer their saves — and now Nintendo’s made it possible to migrate the data on one Switch to another Switch, which just transfers the problem from one machine to another. They should’ve been more specific.
However, there was one case of the fanbase demanding something and getting exactly what they asked for. Not a big fanbase, mind you, but a pretty hardcore one. The kind of fans that want to use Gamecube controllers for everything, especially for Smash, received the ability to plug the circa-2001 controllers into the Switch and use them, via the adapter originally sold for Wii U.
The newfound compatibility suggests something may be in the works that uses the controllers. Perhaps a new Smash, or a port of the Wii U Smash….or maybe Nintendo will launch a Switch Virtual Console with Gamecube games available. Whatever the reason, there is clearly A reason — the company has hinted as such. When deputy general manager Yoshiaki Koizumi was asked about the Switch playing Gamecube material months ago, he gave the cryptic “nothing to discuss” response, but added “What I can tell you is that we are working on things that go in that direction.”
As it is, you can use the Gamecube to control Switch games now, but without a Home button to access the system menu, you may be minorly inconvenienced.