BODY: Nintendo has rolled out a small but important patch for its GameCube Nintendo Classics library, available to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. Update Ver.1.6.1, distributed on April 15, targets a specific bug in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness.
The update addresses an issue within the classic 2005 RPG, which has been one of the more popular titles in the GameCube lineup since it was added to the service. While Nintendo has not disclosed the exact nature of the bug in detail, the patch notes confirm it resolves a gameplay-affecting glitch in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness โ known in Japan as Pokemon XD: Yami no Senpuu Dark Lugia.
This is part of Nintendo's ongoing effort to maintain and refine the retro game libraries offered through its premium online tier. The GameCube Nintendo Classics collection has been a significant draw for Expansion Pack subscribers, bringing beloved titles from the early 2000s to the Switch with online functionality and quality-of-life improvements. Previous updates have similarly addressed compatibility issues and minor bugs across the library.
For subscribers, the update should download automatically when launching the GameCube app, though players can also manually trigger the update through the Switch's system settings.
The insider take
The fact that Nintendo is still actively patching individual GameCube titles shows they're treating the Classics library as a living service rather than a simple ROM dump โ a criticism that dogged the earlier NES and SNES offerings. In Tokyo gaming circles, the GameCube additions have been seen as the real justification for the Expansion Pack's higher price point, and consistent maintenance like this only reinforces that value proposition. It's a small fix, but it signals that Nintendo isn't just tossing legacy titles onto the service and forgetting about them.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).