Nintendo GameCube 2

The Nintendo GameCube 2 is a 9th generation video game console developed by Nintendo and Niobium Moon as the direct successor to the Nintendo Corona and a semi-successor to the Nintendo Switch. It follows in the footsteps of the Corona and serves as a somewhat higher-end alternative to the Switch, with the ability to run games at native 4K or 8K and backwards compatibility with several previous consoles from Nintendo's lineup.
==Overview==
===Development and Reveal===
Due to rising dissatisfaction with the Nintendo Switch, primarily spawning from games being released at a higher price than players felt they were worth, a lack of backwards compatibility and legacy titles, issues with the Joy-Con controllers, and a notable absence of home menu customization, Nintendo sought to take a different approach and design a console that could have more of an appeal to dedicated fans who had been citing these qualms. With the creative input of long-time affiliates Niobium Moon and Tricom - who had recently merged - they began development on a direct successor to Tricom's Nintendo Corona console, but also sought to take more cues and inspiration from the days of the Nintendo GameCube. The console was initially referred to as Project Tesseract, with key people working on the project stating that it would adapt beloved aspects of the original GameCube into the modern gaming environment.
The console's name was eventually confirmed to be the Nintendo GameCube 2, with the original console being retroactively referred to as the GameCube 1. Among the features announced were the ability to run Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs, and direct backwards compatibility with GameCube 1 minidiscs, Wii, Wii U, and Corona discs, and Game Boy family, DS/3DS family, and Switch cartridges. Nintendo IC minidiscs were also confirmed to run on GameCube 2, since Niobium Moon and Tricom were frequent developers for the console; its original creators would receive royalties for every GameCube 2 unit sold thanks to the inclusion of this feature.
The GameCube 2 would run alongside the Switch, as a means of allowing jaded Switch players to transition to it while also not alienating those who were still satisfied with the Switch's offerings. It would also be equipped with higher-end hardware to allow most AAA titles to be more easily ported from Xbox and PlayStation platforms, since Switch versions of said games would need to be scaled back or played off the cloud in order to run properly. Minidiscs were originally planned to be the unit of physical distribution for GameCube 2 games, much like on the GameCube 1, but they were replaced with the more standard Blu-Ray discs to simplify porting for larger third-party titles.
On March 1, 2024, however, Niobium Moon announced that they would no longer be releasing physical copies of GameCube 2 games on discs, and would instead begin utilizing new purple cartridges that would fit into the console's Switch cartridge slot. This would also free up the disc tray for interconnectivity with future GameCube 2 physical releases.
Backwards compatibility is a major focus for the GameCube 2, with some marketing advertising its ability to run games from almost any Nintendo console you could think of. Because of this, players would have easier access to all the classic games they've ever wanted to play, thus removing the need for piracy as well as driving unprecedented retro game sales at local town shops and on websites like Amazon and eBay.
To encourage the use of this feature, several older titles were re-released with new packaging, advertising enhanced visuals on the GameCube 2 and a full list of platforms a disc or cartridge could run on - for example, the boxart for Mario Kart Wii would have a box at the top right-hand corner saying it runs on Wii, Wii U, and GameCube 2, and the cover for Super Smash Bros. Melee would say it runs on GameCube 1 and 2 as well as original Wii models.
The GameCube 2 was primarily designed for use at home, but it also has a screen attachment positioned where the disc reader was on the GameCube 1 to enable occassional sessions of play outside the house. The console can also be connected to a portable HDMI monitor if so desired.
===Controllers===
The GameCube 2 Standard Controller maintains the overall layout of the GameCube 1 controller, with a large green A button plus a red B button and bean-shaped X and Y buttons surrounding it, alongside the grey Control Stick, the yellow C Stick, two analog triggers, and a blue shoulder button. Compared to the GameCube 1 controller, it has a few additional features: a second blue shoulder button, Select, Home and Share buttons, sticks that act as buttons when pushed down, and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth. The analog triggers are now labelled as ZL/ZR while the blue shoulder buttons are designated as L/R, and the C Stick now also serves as an NFC touchpoint for amiibo figures and cards. The GameCube 2 controller can be used wirelessly, but it can also be plugged into the controller ports at the front of the console to minimize input delay; additionally, a GameCube Multitap can be plugged into any controller port to allow more than four players to play some games. The controller can charge through these ports or standard USB-C ports, which are also available.
Other controllers made for the console include motion based Remote and Nunchuck Controllers, successors to their respective Wii counterparts; a Classic Controller modeled after the Wii controller of the same name with push-down sticks added; and a slimmer, lighter Game Pad controller, which can be sync'd to the console and used as a touch screen for DS, 3DS, Wii U, and Switch games.
On November 7, 2023, the Super Pro Controller was announced, with a button layout more closely resembling the Nintendo Switch's Pro Controller with A/B/X/Y arranged in the familiar diamond shape as opposed to the A-centric layout the GameCube controller is known for. Alongside the standard GameCube 2 buttons, the Super Pro Controller comes with a turbo button and four paddle buttons at the back (labelled SL1, SL2, SR1, and SR2) that can be assigned to any controller function, much like the Xbox family's Elite Controllers. The controller is also packaged with a cord that allows it to be plugged into a controller port.
A couple days later, Niobium Moon announced Syn-Cons, which are controllers resembling the Switch's Joy-Cons that can be slipped into an adjustable grip for mobile devices such as phones and tablets. When used with the GameCube 2 mobile app, Syn-Cons can provide a simple way to play Nintendo DS, IC, 3DS, New 3DS, and Wii U games with full touch screen functionality on GameCube 2.
The GameCube 2 is also compatible with various older Nintendo controllers and systems, including:
*Wii Remotes and their accessories;
*Wii U GamePad and Pro Controllers;
*Nintendo Corona controllers;
*Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, Pro Controllers, and NES, SNES, and N64 controllers;
*Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo IC systems via Download Play;
*and even Game Boy Advance systems with a GameCube-GBA Link Cable for certain titles.
NES/SNES controllers and GBA systems can be used for their respective Virtual Console titles as well as newer games developed with them in mind, and Wii Remotes can be connected with a Wii sensor bar USB adapter or a sync'd Wii U GamePad. The Corona's Controller Drives are also forwards-compatible with the GameCube 2 and its OS and software.
===Console Layout===
The console itself retains the cube shape the GameCube is known for, with Power, Reset, Disc, and Screen buttons at the top, along with a headphone jack for portable use, a DS/3DS cartridge slot, and a Switch cartridge slot - the last of which is also used to run GameCube 2 cartridges released from Q2 2024 onwards. The Disc button ejects a currently inserted disc from the disc tray, while the Screen button unfolds the portable screen on the top of the console, and pressing it again folds it back.
The disc tray can be used to run:
*GameCube 2 optical discs released until Q2 2024;
*GameCube 1 and IC minidiscs;
*Wii, Wii U, and Corona optical discs;
*and Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs.
On the front are four controller ports in which GameCube 1 and 2 controllers can be plugged in, two memory card slots allowing the player to use QuickCube Cards (explained in their own section below) or insert GameCube 1 memory cards to load existing data for GameCube 1 games they own, and a Game Boy slot to run Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. An update would eventually release to allow the Game Boy slot to run Game Boy Hub cartridges as well, and enable the usage of the new GC2-GBH Link Cable with the console's controller ports.
The Game Boy slot can also be used with DS/DS Lite Slot 2 Option Paks, albeit only ones that would not require the DS system to be held in the player's hands during usage, like the Play-Yan MP3 player and FM radio converters. It is far from ideal to use the Guitar Grip that comes with the Guitar Hero: On Tour games on the GameCube 2, for example.
On the right and left sides are USB ports (two on each side) and SD card slots (one on each side). At the back are the AC adapter port, an Ethernet port for local area network (LAN) play, a handle for carrying the console around, vents for the console's internal fan, and two HDMI ports, one of which acts as an HDMI-in port allowing you to hook up another device to the GameCube 2 and give it access to the HDMI input, like the Xbox One.
The console's portable screen, which rests at a 4:3 aspect ratio by default, has three extensions at the sides and top that can dynamically pop out and slide back in depending on the game being played, enabling better functionality with widescreen games while also avoiding unwanted stretching or black bars on the display while playing games made for older aspect ratios. This also applies to movies, TV series, and recorded video being played back on the console in portable mode. The portable screen has a maximum resolution of 1080p, however, and cannot reach 4K or 8K due to the power needed to make use of the dynamic extension feature.
The GameCube 2 also comes with a wireless charging cradle (which itself can be charged via USB-C) for use when using the console on the go.
===The Cube===
The Cube, the GameCube 2's home menu, allows access to multiple console functions, split between the Cube's six flat sides. Pressing the A Button on the front side takes you to the Games & Apps menu, where you can select a game to play, use the Mii Maker, watch movies and TV on Netflix, listen to music on Spotify, etc.; the right side shows you System Settings, like Date & Time, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Storage, Themes, etc.; the left side will open the Nintendo eShop; the back side opens the Media Player, which allows you to play back downloaded video and audio files as well as Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs; the top side takes you to the Nintendo Online menu, allowing you to access to the console's online hub; and the bottom side will let view your Profile.
Pressing the Home Button in any game or app will open the console's Taskbar, where you can quickly access The Cube's six menus or any games or apps you have pinned. Holding the button down for three (3) seconds will take you directly back to The Cube and put your current game/app into Sleep Mode, allowing you to continue from where you left off the next time you open it. Additionally, upon purchasing a new game or app via Nintendo eShop, its icon will pop up on the Taskbar with a circle graph showing its current download percentage. This way, you can use the Taskbar to check on your download progress no matter what program or menu you are in.
In the Games & Apps menu, holding down a trigger button on your controller (ZL/ZR on the standard controller, A+B on a Remote controller, etc.) while highlighting a game or app will allow you to pick it up and move it around on the menu; any sync'd device with a touch screen can be used to do this as well. You can drop a game/app on top of another one to create a Folder or Locker - the latter of which allows you to set a password or PIN code that will be required to unlock it, making Lockers fairly useful for parental controls or protecting games/apps you don't want anyone else touching at the time. Pressing the + Button while highlighting software will open a Software Settings menu akin to the menu seen for software on Switch, where you can access important information, update the game/app, manage save data, and delete or archive the software. You can also press the X button to pin/unpin games and apps on the Taskbar.
In the Profile section, you'll be able to edit your profile icon, your bio, and your Greeting message that your friends will see whenever you turn on your console. Additionally, you can import music content and images to design a custom theme for your profile and overall Home Menu; music can be imported from CDs, GBH multimedia cartridges, the pre-installed Game Music app, or services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer, etc. You can choose to have your custom theme visible to friends if they visit your profile. You will also be able to view your Sticker Book, consisting of Sticker achievements you've earned in games. Stickers are available in five categories based on their value: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Niobium. You can organize them by game, in alphabetical order, or by the date they were earned, all in ascending or descending order. Stickers can be placed on top of folders and lockers, or they can be traded with others or even sold for Gold Points which can be used to save money on your next purchase in the eShop.
With a Nintendo Online membership, not only will you be able to play your games online; you will also have access to the White Hole modding/homebrew app and its community. Additionally, you'll be able to check on your cloud saves for games you own, post content on the Miiverse Plus service (as of the Switch Plus launch update), and receive trials for three different free games a month - plus the option to purchase any of them at a discount if you like them.
In the Settings menu, you'll find the following options:
*Data Management: In this menu, you have the option to delete software, archive it to save space when you're not using it, or (if applicable) send data from your console to a micro SD card or vice versa.
*Power-On Priority: Choose whether your console should open on the Home Menu or instantly run a game from a specified slot when you power it on.
*Time and Date: Set up the clock and calendar on your console, change your current time zone, or set alarms and event notifications.
*Parental Controls: Arrange restrictions for Game Boy Hub profiles for users under a specified age, including which programs they can purchase or use, whether they can make purchases in general, or how long they can play. Custom profile music is uploaded to a database that categorizes tracks depending on their explicit content, allowing you to easily mute music that you may find inappropriate while a child is browsing profiles.
*Journal: View a system log displaying which games and apps have been used over a specified period of time, how long/often certain programs have been used, and which profiles have been using said programs the most.
*Internet: Set up available Wi-Fi networks for your console.
*Payment: Update your credit/debit card information, check on your subscriptions, or add any gift cards you currently have.
*Location: Set your country and language.
*Update: Download the latest console update, if your console has not automatically updated.
*Factory Reset: Reset your GameCube 2 console to its factory default settings. You will be asked twice to clarify that you want to do this before the reset proceeds.
===QuickCube Cards===
On April 14, 2022, Nintendo and Niobium Moon announced a new way to keep track of your game data and apps on the GameCube 2 - QuickCube Cards.
QuickCube Cards are modified micro SD cards that can be stuck into either SD card slot on the console, or inserted into a Gamecube memory card shaped shell to free up SD storage. They are designed to not only store your save data, but also transfer it between versions of the same game on other platforms. This way, you can have backup data for a GameCube 2 game and pick up right where you left off if you own the same game on Switch, Steam, Xbox, etc.
A single QuickCube Card also comes with adapters for use with USB ports, non-micro SD card slots, and DS/3DS cartridge slots. With the assistance of a team of homebrew developers, a QuickCube Card will be able to function natively with most, if not all consoles it is used for.
===Other Peripherals===
On August 18, 2022, an external Legacy Cartridge Player was announced, allowing GameCube 2 owners to plug it into a USB port on their console and use it to run NES, SNES, and N64 games, a feature that had remained absent at launch to save room for slots for more recent consoles like the Switch. Additionally, thanks to a deal with SEGA, the Legacy Cartridge Player can also run SEGA Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, and Game Gear cartridges.
On October 24, 2022, the Game Boy Hub announcement video was posted on YouTube and social media, and along with a variety of other key features, the video unveiled the GameCube 2 - Game Boy Hub Link Cable, which would allow players to plug their GBH into one of the GameCube 2's controller ports and transfer data between the two consoles - and even use the GBH as a controller for most GameCube 2 games. Since the GBH can run Game Boy Advance games natively, this Link Cable would also enable access to features in certain GBA and GameCube 1 games that could previously not be accessed without the original consoles and their Link Cable, such as the ability to control the Ghosts with GBA consoles linked to Pac-Man Vs. on the GameCube 1, or the ability to play as your player avatar from Mario Golf: Advance Tour in Toadstool Tour and transfer experience points you earn back to the former to unlock additional content.
On February 8, 2023, Super Guitar Hero was announced as a GameCube 2 exclusive, and with it came the unveiling of new Guitar, Drum, Turntable, Keyboard, and Saxophone controllers for use with the game. The Guitar, Drum, and Turntable controllers are also compatible with the Wii versions of most games in the franchise, as well as new ports of the first two installments, which had previously never been released on a Nintendo console.
===Compatibility with Switch Plus===
When Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch Plus, questions arose about the relevance of the GameCube 2 and Game Boy Hub in its presence. It was explained that the intent of the two consoles had always been to coexist with the Switch family so players can have multiple different ways to access the content they want, and as such, development of software for both consoles would continue as planned. The Switch Plus was cited as a "perfectly valid" addition to the overall ecosystem that the GameCube 2 and Game Boy Hub had established, and Niobium Moon confirmed that they will be supporting the new platform with multiple new releases in the future.
The primary differences between the three consoles, in terms of their general focus points as platforms, are as follows:
*The Switch Plus was intended to be a seamless transition from the previous Switch models, maintaining the Switch family's familiarity and general appeal at the time while also offering improvements where needed and requested.
*The GameCube 2 was designed as an essentially all-in-one Nintendo console for longtime fans who have held onto their old games, as well as an alternative for more jaded Switch players who don't feel as strong of a connection to the Switch as a platform as they did towards older Nintendo consoles, like the GameCube 1 and Wii in particular.
*The Game Boy Hub, as a concept, was rooted in nostalgia for the pre-Switch days of handheld gaming, especially the simplicity of the Game Boy family; as such, the console was made as a tribute to the overall "vibes" of the family that could also bring more modern offerings to the table, including a vast amount of multimedia content.
It was announced that on the Switch Plus's launch day, the GameCube 2 would receive an update to run cartridges designed for the console via its existing Switch cartridge slot. This decision was primarily made to allow players who only used their Switch in dock mode to use a GameCube 2 they already own to play Switch Plus games, rather than having to purchase the Switch Plus itself, while also allowing those who want to continue playing their games on the go to aim for the Switch Plus instead. All Switch Plus controllers would also be compatible with the GameCube 2, with GameCube 2 versions of games released on both platforms supporting the new L/R mouse wheels on the Joy-Con Plus and Pro Controller Plus.
Additionally, Nintendo Switch Online Plus would be integrated into the unified Nintendo Online service that encompasses the GameCube 2 and Game Boy Hub. Miiverse Plus would be incorporated into the features of the latter two consoles, and syncing an existing Nintendo Online account from either platform with a Switch Online Plus account would allow Switch Plus players to access the White Hole service to mod their games, as well as try out to a few free Switch or Switch Plus games a month and purchase them at a discount if desired.
===Deal with Sony===
On September 11, 2024, almost three weeks after the release and record-breaking failure of Sony's hero shooter game Concord, Niobium Moon announced that Sony had approached them for talks about a possible collaboration with them and Nintendo to bring their video game library to GameCube 2 and Game Boy Hub, possibly through a native PlayStation Plus app on the platforms. Rumors have since begun circulating around the internet, claiming that Sony was in "desperation mode" after the failure of Concord and the negative reception to the announcement of the PS5 Pro just a day prior.
It is unknown what exactly the results of these talks will be, but representatives of Niobium Moon have stated that negotiations have been running smoothly - citing Nintendo and Sony's previous collaboration with Toroko on The V² as a major factor - and that a deal may be finalized within the next month.
===Models and Revisions===
On October 5, 2023, a new GameCube 2 model called the Nintendo GameScreen was announced, slated for release in Q3 2024. It was unveiled as a smart TV with the GameCube 2 OS built in, with the many slots for game discs and cartridges accessible on the right side of the TV. Along with the standard GameCube 2 controller, it comes with a GameScreen TV remote, which itself can also act as a motion Remote Controller. The GameScreen has two additional HDMI ports, as well as a set of RCA component ports. It was eventually released on September 6, 2024.
Niobium Moon announced the Nintendo GameCube 2 Lite on September 12, 2024. It is a slightly smaller model of the GameCube 2 with no portable display or HDMI-in port, and only two USB ports and one SD card slot.
==Software==
===Games===
:Any page that has [[Category:Nintendo GameCube 2 Games]] on them will be added here automatically (after a purge or edit). If you would like to have your game(s) on this console, add the category to the article(s).
====Virtual Console====
After its notable absence on the Switch, Virtual Console returns on the GameCube 2, with GameCube 1 titles arriving alongside the traditional NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Wii, Wii U, and Game Boy and DS family titles. This is to allow a readily available means of accessing classic games that players may not already own physical copies of.
Virtual Console games can be purchased and downloaded individually, or you can use your Nintendo Online subscription to stream all available titles in the Online menu.
===GameCube 2 Mobile App===
The GameCube 2 app is available to download on iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire devices, and gives you access to a myriad of features related to the console and your account. You can sync your device and use it as a controller, manage data and make eShop purchases when you don't have the console with you, view online content in the Nintendo Online section, move/copy photos and audio/video files to the console storage, and even sync your phone number and contacts with the console's CubeCall app.
The app can be set to either connect to the console over wi-fi only, or sync data to the account itself to enable access on 4G/5G networks.
===Pre-Installed Apps===
These apps are available on the console by default.
*Health & Safety Information: Self-explanatory. Don't get yourself hurt.
*Mii Maker: Miis return once again, and now have all the customization options from the Switch port of Miitopia.
*CubeCall: This app allows the GameCube 2 to act as a phone, and you can use it to call family or friends, place an order for delivery, make important calls, etc., all from the comfort of your couch while you play. If you already have a phone, you can sync your phone number with your GameCube 2 to have all of your contacts available for access.
*White Hole: Niobium Moon Studios' community app for modders and homebrew developers, new to the GameCube 2. Having a Nintendo Online subscription gives you instant access to a wide variety of homebrew apps for your console, along with mods for your favorite games, which you can install and turn on or off with the White Hole Mod Manager. You can also connect the app to your PC or mobile device to easily access and change textures, models, and music/SFX, or rip them from the games themselves for use to mod other games. The White Hole app is generally inspired by the Wii's homebrew community, the GameBanana website, and the Fallen Cloud app on The V².
*NintendoCast: A live TV service included as part of the Nintendo Online Expansion Pack. It is a refresh of the Wii U's Nintendo TVii app, with a lot of the common TV networks for entertainment, news, and sports being included - alongside the similarly revived Nintendo Channel, which features the return of the Wii's Nintendo Week and broadcasting of Nintendo Direct presentations, plus monthly competitions players can participate in for prizes.
*Camera and Sound: By connecting a phone via the GameCube 2 mobile app or using a Game Pad controller, you can take pictures or record audio/videos and save them straight to your console. If you have a Game Boy Hub, you'll be able to transfer and copy photos, audio, and video between it and your GameCube 2.
*Back Mii Up: A cloud storage app where you can store copies of multimedia files, Miis, and compatible game saves for future transfer between GameCube 2, Game Boy Hub, and Switch Plus.
*Game Music: When you buy a GameCube 2 game, you'll also be able to listen to its soundtrack in this app. Inspired by a similar feature on The V².
*Opera Browser: The GameCube 2's default web browser, now with all the features of the desktop and mobile versions. Other web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, etc. can be installed from the eShop as alternatives.
*File Explorer: View all the game data and media files you have stored on the console or any connected storage devices.
*Discord: Log in to your Discord account and connect to your favorite servers and communities straight from the GameCube 2. You can allow the app to display your current console activity on your profile status.
*Spotify: Log in to your Spotify profile to listen to your music in the background as you continue your current game or activity.
*Steam: Announced on December 6, 2023, the new Steam app allows you to download any games you own on Steam and play them on your GameCube 2, with all of your save data and mods being transferred over.
Opera, Discord, and Spotify can be deleted and re-installed from the eShop at will.
==Colors and Bundles==
All GameCube 2 bundles include an HDMI plug, an AC adapter, and a USB-C plug and wireless charging cradle for charging the console in portable mode.
Controllers and standard bundles come in a variety of colors, including:
*Classic Indigo (launch color)
*Spice Orange (launch color)
*Cosmic Black (launch color)
*Atomic Purple (inspired by the N64 color of the same name)
*Icy White
*Fiery Red
*Sky Blue
*Sunset Pink
*Desert Yellow
*Emerald Green
The current available bundles are as follows:
*Standard Bundle
**Nintendo GameCube 2 Console
**Nintendo GameCube 2 Standard Controller
**Nintendo GameCube 2 Remote Controller
*Maker Bundle
**"Overworld" Nintendo GameCube 2 Console, with a Super Mario World level going around the box
**Sky Blue Nintendo GameCube 2 Standard Controller x2
**Sky Blue Nintendo GameCube 2 Remote Controller x2
**Super Mario Maker Cloud
*Melee Bundle
**Black Nintendo GameCube 2 console with a grey Super Smash Bros. emblem on the pop-up screen's shell
**Black Nintendo GameCube 2 Standard Controller x4
**Super Smash Bros. Melee (with refined visuals for GameCube 2)
*Flashback Bundle
**Nintendo GameCube 2 console with SNES colors (white and blue)
**White Nintendo GameCube 2 Standard Controller
**White Nintendo GameCube 2 Classic Controller
**Digital copies of Super Mario Bros. 1-3, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country 1-3, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Metroid, Metroid 2: Samus Returns, Super Metroid, Kirby's Dream Land 1-3, and Kirby Super Star
*Rhythmic Bundle
**Light Green Nintendo GameCube 2 Console
**Light Green Nintendo GameCube 2 Standard + Remote Controllers
**Rhythm Heaven Megamix (with added motion controls and refined visuals for GameCube 2)
**3 months of free Spotify Premium
==Gallery==
NintendoGamecube2 Boxart Template.png|Boxart template.
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