Super Mario Sunshine Joins GameCube Nintendo Classics on Switch 2
The simultaneous release of the game and its soundtrack on Nintendo Music highlights Nintendo's strategy of pairing classic game availability with music streaming, a pattern seen with the earlier Fire Emblem: Ban Shikou tracks.
Key Facts
- Super Mario Sunshine was added to GameCube Nintendo Classics on August 13, 2026.
- The game is playable on Nintendo Switch 2 through a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
- Super Mario Sunshine originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002.
- The Super Mario Sunshine soundtrack began distribution on Nintendo Music on August 13, 2026.
- Nintendo Music added 10 tracks from Fire Emblem: Ban Shikou on August 4, 2026.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, Game Spark.
Nintendo added Super Mario Sunshine to the GameCube Nintendo Classics library on August 13, 2026, making the 2002 action game playable on Nintendo Switch 2 through a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. The game, originally released for the Nintendo GameCube, follows Mario as he is framed for graffiti crimes on the tropical Isle Delfino and must clean the island while recovering the power of the sun, called Shine. Its signature gameplay involves using a water device known as FLUDD to defeat enemies, fly through the air, and solve puzzles. The addition had been previously announced, and its arrival on the service was anticipated by players. Alongside the game's release, Nintendo also began distributing the Super Mario Sunshine soundtrack on Nintendo Music, a music streaming service available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. This music addition follows a special distribution of 10 tracks from Fire Emblem: Ban Shikou on August 4. The GameCube Nintendo Classics service is part of Nintendo's ongoing effort to bring older titles to the Switch 2 platform.
Super Mario Sunshine is a 3D action game that launched on the Nintendo GameCube in 2002. In it, Mario arrives on the southern paradise of Isle Delfino for a vacation, only to be accused of covering the island in graffiti. He is equipped with a water pump called FLUDD, which he uses to spray away the mess, defeat enemies, and even fly short distances. The game features several distinct areas, including Bianco Hills and Ricco Harbor, where players tackle platforming challenges. Some stages remove FLUDD entirely, forcing players to rely on traditional jumping, which many found difficult at the time.
The GameCube Nintendo Classics service is available on Nintendo Switch 2 and requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Nintendo had previously confirmed that Super Mario Sunshine would join the lineup, and the August 13 release fulfills that promise. The soundtrack addition on Nintendo Music means subscribers can listen to the game's music without leaving the Nintendo ecosystem. This marks the second music update in August, following the Fire Emblem: Ban Shikou tracks added on August 4.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.