Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is finally headed to Nintendo Switch Online this March. As it’s a GameCube game, it will only be available for Nintendo Switch 2 users.
The game was previously announced for Nintendo Switch Online back when the GameCube Classics were first revealed last April. However, the game was not given a release date at the time, and fans have anticipated its appearance for almost a year now. Also at that time, Pokémon Colosseum was shown, but that game was not given a release date today nor do we know when it will arrive on the service.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness first released on GameCube back in 2005, and was a successor to Pokémon Colosseum, taking place in the same region. The game is a single-player 3D adventure where the player travels the Orre region to fight, capture, and purify Shadow Pokémon. Pokémon XD was also compatible with Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald at the time, allowing players to transfer Pokémon back and forth between games and use them to battle in a multiplayer Battle Mode.
When it first came out, we gave Pokémon XD a 6.8/10, saying, “Pokémon XD has merit on its own for players who may not have experienced the first GameCube design [Colosseum], but as a sequel this one doesn’t have nearly the same ‘oomph’ as the original.”
Unfortunately, not only did we not get a date for Colosseum, we also still have yet to see Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald on Nintendo Switch Online. The closest we’ve gotten is a Switch port of FireRed and LeafGreen, but it’s not clear yet how, or even if, it would be compatible with XD.
You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Pokemon Presents right here.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
