The Virtual Console service on Nintendo Switch is rumoured to welcome GameCube games for the first time, and Super Smash Bros. Melee is tipped to be an early arrival.
Source Gaming reports that multiple, independent sources have revealed that Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD) has been tasked with working on the Virtual Console service, after impressing Nintendo Co. Ltd with their work on the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System.
Bringing Super Smash Bros. Melee to the home gaming system will be a move that is clearly “aimed at the competitive market,” and comes in direct response to community demand for its return over the past few years.
The only worry that developers have is that Nintendo Switch does not have analog triggers, although other reports have gone against that. There is hope that the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U will be supported, to eliminate such concerns.
Despite the challenges that the Wii U has faced in attracting a wider audience, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U remains one of the best-selling games for the console with 4.99 million copies sold worldwide. That success has outpaced Splatoon (4.57 million) and Super Mario Maker (3.73 million), although these were released later.
Super Smash Bros. Melee remains a clear favourite in the fighting game community, and, as was implied in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer, Nintendo are clearly aiming to tap into that enthusiasm. Back in the day, the mascot brawler sold 7.09 million copies worldwide and remains the best-selling GameCube game with Mario Kart: Double Dash!! chasing in second place.
Nintendo Switch will release worldwide in March 2017.
