Nintendo Switch Online Is Getting A Classic Game Never Released Outside Of Japan

Nintendo Switch Online is adding even more to its collection of classic games this month, including one title that has never been seen outside of Japan. As part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, two classic Game Boy Advance F-Zero games will be able to be enjoyed on the Nintendo Switch console later this month. F-Zero has long been a beloved racing game franchise, although the series has seen little to no action in recent decades.

Lately, the Nintendo Switch Online gaming service's library has had many titles and updates added to its catalog, sparking more interest for nostalgic fans to pay for the subscription. Last year, Nintendo also released the first F-Zero game since 2004, with F-Zero 99 offering chaotic multiplayer gameplay for of the online service. F-Zero fans don't have to stop there, however, as later this month, two games from 2004, F-Zero: GP Legend and Japan's F-Zero Climax, are coming to Switch, but only for those who have paid for the Expansion Pack to Nintendo Switch Online and therefore have access to the GBA catalog.

Two F-Zero Games Coming To Nintendo Switch Online

Arriving On October 11, 2024

On October 11, 2024, both F-Zero: GP Legend and F-Zero Climax will be added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack's Game Boy Advance app. While F-Zero: GP Legend was previously released for Europe and North America in 2004, F-Zero Climax has never before been available outside of Japan. The title is not only a new F-Zero experience for fans of the series but also offers features such as a track editor, with which creative players can make some incredible tracks of their own.

Captain Falcon, a man wearing a red helmet, and blue and orange racing suit, in front of a background of 16-bit F-Zero 99 cars.

F-Zero 99’s New Update Is More Evidence The Series Could Be Revived

A new mode has come to F-Zero 99, and it takes the multiplayer racing game closer to the series' roots, giving longtime fans hope for a new game.

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Aside from the battle royale experience of F-Zero 99, F-Zero Climax was the last game in the series ever to be developed. The game received a few negative responses due to many feeling as though the difficulty was not balanced properly in the game, yet its track editor and mission-based Survival mode still made it a popular and fun experience for those who were able to try it.

Screen Rant's Take On These Additions To Nintendo Switch Online

It's Always Good To See More F-Zero

Fans of racing games, and particularly those like myself who have fond memories of growing up with the F-Zero games, can be excited at the prospect of having a "new" old game to try out for the series. Although it is still a 2004 game, with the graphics to prove it, it also means that Nintendo is still thinking about the franchise. Between the recent F-Zero 99 and now these ports for F-Zero Climax and F-Zero: GP Legend, perhaps it is a sign that more F-Zero could be coming in the future, although that is currently simply a hopeful outlook as nothing has been announced.

Regardless of whether a new F-Zero could be in development, adding these two titles to the online service is still something to celebrate. Despite its age, many have never had the opportunity to play F-Zero Climax. This means that the game, with its track editor and other modes, will be like an entirely new title for those who never got a chance to experience It in the past.

Unfortunately, to enjoy the game, prospective players must have subscriptions to the Nintendo Switch Online service with the additional Expansion Pack for access to the Game Boy Advance titles.