Nintendo is bringing Super Mario Sunshine to the Nintendo Switch 2 via the Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on August 13. This addition will expand the GameCube library available to subscribers, which currently includes titles like F-Zero GX and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Super Mario Sunshine, originally released for the GameCube in 2002, was a departure from the more traditional platforming found in other 3D Mario titles. Instead, it focused on environmental puzzles that required players to use FLUDD, a sentient water-spraying device, to clean up messes across the tropical setting of Isle Delfino. This mechanic has been seen as a precursor to the water-based gameplay in Splatoon and some elements of Super Mario Odyssey.
While Nintendo's announcement tease does not show gameplay, previous additions to the GameCube library on Switch Online have featured enhancements such as improved resolutions. It is anticipated that Super Mario Sunshine will receive similar visual upgrades, especially considering that a remastered version was previously available in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection.
The inclusion of Super Mario Sunshine will bring the total number of GameCube titles on Nintendo Switch Online to ten. Pokémon Colosseum has also been confirmed for the service, though a release date has not yet been announced. This move offers players another opportunity to experience a distinctive entry in the Mario franchise on current Nintendo hardware, while some fans may still hold out hope for a full remake in the future.