Super Mario Sunshine will be added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GameCube library on August 13, Nintendo announced. The 2002 platformer follows Super Mario 64 as a GameCube title available through the subscription service for the Switch 2.
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Key Facts
Super Mario Sunshine is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on August 13. The game will be playable on the Switch 2. A subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier is required for access. The original Super Mario Sunshine was released for the GameCube in 2002. This release makes all of the main 3D Mario console titles available on the Switch 2, with the exception of Super Mario 3D Land which remains a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. A previous release of the game was included in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, which was delisted by Nintendo after a limited run that concluded in March 2021.
What’s New
The Nintendo Switch Online version of Super Mario Sunshine is an emulated release of the original GameCube title. While the core gameplay and mechanics are expected to remain identical to the 2002 release, players can anticipate several enhancements:
- Upscaled visuals: The game will feature updated graphics to better suit modern displays.
- Built-in save states: Players will have the convenience of saving their progress at any point within the game, a feature not present in the original release.
- Availability via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: The game joins the GameCube library, accessible only to subscribers of the higher-tier Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Nintendo has not detailed any new gameplay content or significant alterations to the original game’s structure or physics. The addition of the game to the service is primarily focused on providing access to the original experience with modern conveniences.
Availability
Super Mario Sunshine will be available for download to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers starting August 13. Nintendo has not specified any regional differences in rollout timing, suggesting a global release on this date for all territories where the service is active. This release follows the addition of other GameCube titles to the platform. Separately, Zero Racers and D-Hopper are scheduled to be added to the Virtual Console Nintendo Classics app on August 4, also requiring the Expansion Pack subscription. The company has not announced any plans for a standalone purchase option for Super Mario Sunshine outside of the subscription service.
How to Get It
To play Super Mario Sunshine on the Switch 2, users must have an active subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier. Once subscribed, the game will become available for download directly from the Nintendo eShop as part of the GameCube library. Players can navigate to the Nintendo Switch Online section within the eShop and select Super Mario Sunshine to initiate the download. No separate purchase is necessary for subscribers.
What It Means
The addition of Super Mario Sunshine to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack signifies the completion of Nintendo’s goal to bring all of its main 3D home console Mario titles to the Switch 2 platform. This release fulfills a long-anticipated move, especially since the game was announced as part of the service’s future GameCube offerings prior to the Switch 2’s launch. The game’s inclusion also means players have access to a significant, albeit divisive, entry in the Super Mario series without needing to acquire the now-delisted Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. This move ensures that the GameCube’s signature 3D platformer can be experienced by a new generation of players alongside its predecessors and successors on the current console.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Super Mario Sunshine being released on Nintendo Switch Online?
Super Mario Sunshine is scheduled to be released on August 13 for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.
What subscription tier is required to play Super Mario Sunshine?
Access to Super Mario Sunshine requires a subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier.
Will Super Mario Sunshine have updated controls?
Nintendo has not announced any changes to the original controls of Super Mario Sunshine; it is expected to play as it did on the GameCube.
Can I buy Super Mario Sunshine separately?
Nintendo has not announced plans to sell Super Mario Sunshine separately. It is only available through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
