The Nintendo Switch 2's GameCube backward compatibility is a major selling point for the Switch Online service, but a new test confirms that playing GameCube titles on the console comes with a significant drawback. As an exclusive Switch 2 addition to Switch Online's library of retro titles, the introductory lineup of GameCube offerings brought back The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2, with Super Mario Strikers more recently joining the fray. While this can be a lot more convenient than tracking down original copies to play on a GameCube or Wii, it isn't perfect.
A new video from Digital Foundry on YouTube confirms a meaningful amount of input lag when playing GameCube games on Switch Online. When testing the high-speed game F-Zero G, multiple connection and display options all resulted in significantly higher latency than playing on an original GameCube. The original hardware featured roughly 70ms of input latency, while the Switch 2 is around 120ms.
120ms of input latency is generally passable, and when kicking back to play The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it shouldn't be an issue. For highly competitive games like F-Zero GX and...
