Opinion: We Think Nintendo Switch Online Will Add DS Next, And Here’s Why

Nintendo added Game Boy and Game Boy Advance to Nintendo Switch Online in the latest Nintendo Direct, and it got a lot of fans excited. Nintendo are slow to add new systems, but the latest additions tell us they aren’t done putting classic consoles onto their subscription service. Whilst movement may be slow, Nintendo are looking for more ways to make Nintendo Switch Online offer real value for money, and that’s an exciting prospect. There’s a lot of speculation at this point that the next system added to the service will be the GameCube, but honestly, we’re thinking that the Nintendo DS is more likely.

On the surface, it makes sense to anticipate the GameCube next. In chronological order, the GameCube was Nintendo’s next system after the Game Boy Advance, so it’s a logical next step. That being said, Nintendo has shown that they can break that order when they feel like it, with the Nintendo 64 arriving on Switch before the Game Boy, despite the latter preceding the former by seven years. Nintendo even skipped right over the Virtual Boy, which to be fair is not entirely surprising given the reception the system had at release.

GB and GBA Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo recently added the GB and GBA to their online service, but which system comes next?

While we’re looking at patterns and precedent, Nintendo’s past lack of GameCube releases doesn’t bode well for it changing with the Switch. The Wii U had a bunch of emulated games to purchase on the Virtual Console, similar to the Switch but without the subscription model. Whilst NES, SNES, N64 and more all had games available to buy, the GameCube never made an appearance. No official reason was ever given as to why it never showed up, but clearly something was holding Nintendo back. Whether it was the low Wii U install base or technical issues, they never followed through with the missing system. We’ve got a feeling it involves money, but more on that later.

Whilst the GameCube was a no-show, do you know which system did appear on the Wii U? That’s right, the Nintendo DS! Nintendo added 31 DS titles to the Virtual Console between 2015 and 2017. The selection included classics like Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros. and Animal Crossing: Wild World. It could be the case therefore that the addition of these games is telling us that Nintendo already has a working DS emulator. It’s not a leap to think that, if Nintendo does already have an effective way to emulate DS games on other systems, then they will use this technology over on Nintendo Switch Online next.

Wii U DS Virtual Console
The Virtual Console of the Wii U did eventually offer Nintendo DS games.

Another potential reason that we anticipate DS could make its way to the Switch next is because of the size of the titles compared to those of the GameCube. An average GameCube game has a file size of over 1GB per individual game, whilst games on the Nintendo DS sat at around 120MB. The standard Switch has 32GB of native internal storage (64GB for the OLED), and a bunch of that is probably already taken up with the player’s downloaded games, save data and screenshots. Sure, it’s easy to just delete stuff and make space for things, but adding DS games would be a lot simpler, faster and easier for Nintendo and the player.

While we’re talking about tech, the Switch has a touch screen. It might handle pretty awkwardly, but a DS game running on the Switch would actually be able to have its complete original functionality. The Switch has the same amount of buttons and a functional touch screen, which would allow emulation without any need for alteration on games that have mandatory touch controls. 

Pokemon Ranger Guardian Signs
Touch-heavy games like Pokémon Ranger would still be playable on Switch with a stylus.

Meanwhile, GameCube titles like Super Mario Sunshine had analog trigger functionality, something the Switch and its official controllers do not support. Any games that relied on these analog triggers would be less fun to play on the Switch without Nintendo finding workarounds in each title, which would take a lot more work, effort and resources.

The final reason we’re not expecting GameCube games next is probably the most obvious – Nintendo has already been working on giving us GameCube games as individually priced ports. Super Mario Sunshine for example was already available as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a trio of Mario ports from past Nintendo systems. There’s also the brand new Metroid Prime Remastered, a visually impressive remaster of the classic GameCube title. There’s still money to be made from GameCube games, and updating their visuals and giving them a rerelease is a proven effective money maker for the company.

Metroid Prime Remastered screenshot
The recent Metroid Prime Remastered shows us that Nintendo still plans to make money from GameCube releases.

Remastering DS games for full paid releases would be a lot harder and a lot more time-consuming, without a proven track record of success to justify the investment. What would make far more sense is to just port over the DS games as they are onto the Switch. This isn’t to say Nintendo should just throw DS games over without changing anything. A few options within the emulation would be appreciated, such as options to change screen layouts and perhaps map an analog stick to a virtual touch controller for docked play.

We’ve been anticipating GameCube games on the Switch for a while, but seeing Metroid Prime Remastered at the last Nintendo Direct had us questioning ourselves. For all the reasons above, we think that it’s more likely at this point that the DS will make its way to Nintendo Switch Online next. 

Which system do you think will be coming next to Nintendo Switch Online, if any? Do you agree with our arguments, or do you have a different opinion that we’ve not considered? Whatever it is you’re thinking, let us know your thoughts below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more gaming news and features.

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Ralph
Ralph
1 year ago

This is idiot talk. Ain’t nobody want to play DS games on a single screen.

Joom
Joom
1 year ago

Your claim about Gamecube game sizes is off. They are not over 1 GB in size. More often than not, this is just padding data that was added so that data would reach the edge of the disc. If you trim an ISO, though, you’ll see just how small games are. The original Animal Crossing, for example, shrinks from 1 GB to 14 MB. This padding data obviously wouldn’t be needed for NSO, and many Gamecube games would comfortably fit on it.

I also agree with Ralph. Nobody wants this on the Switch. It was abysmal on the Wii U. I can’t imagine it’d be better with one less screen.

Ronald
Ronald
1 year ago

I think we are going to get Wii game’s I still believe you

terry
terry
1 year ago

ds will never be added because it can never work on a single screen

Brian
Brian
1 year ago

How would you play DS games docked?

Wade
Wade
1 year ago
Reply to  Bobby Kent

That would be awesome if you could use gyro for touch.

MBII
MBII
1 year ago

The Wii U was a dual screen experience, like the DS and unlike the Switch. So I think you’re off on that. In fact, why are you assuming they will add more systems? Let’s let them focus on adding games for the existing ones already.

Moises Garza
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  MBII

I’m good with them just ending with GBA if it was the case.

Jay
Jay
1 year ago

Hope we DON’T get these. They will throw them in their overpriced “expansion pack” and give the regular NSO users garbage. Nintendo should get rid of NSO Expansion pack and take the L. $50 a month for shit online play, no discounts on main titles, TERRIBLE N64 emulation. The list goes on and on

Moises Garza
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay

If you can get in a family with 8, at $10 is worth it, but yeah at $50 I can’t recommend

Weasle
Weasle
1 year ago

If they added DS, they would release the bottom screen of the DS as the NSO controller and that would serve as the Controller. If you don’t have that then there be some weird button mapping thing.

I think the DS will be added as part of the expansion pack and the Virtual Boy will be added as part of the base pack.

I also think Gamecube and Wii will come at some point as part of the expansion pack, with maybe the Sega Master System and Atari on the base pack.

John E.
John E.
1 year ago
Reply to  Weasle

What makes you think Nintendo is interested in adding all of those systems? Why would they pay for Sega Master System and Atari games, then put them on the base plan?

DarkAuroraXCIX
DarkAuroraXCIX
8 months ago

Idk why everyone is saying they wont add ds because of dual screen, they would just put one screen one top and on bottom and give you options to change the layout of the screens

Brad
Brad
7 months ago

Really isn’t every Nintendo game from every game system eventually at some point going to be available? DS, GameCube, Wii will all be on and Nintendo’s entire game history will be available I think