Players can finally get their hands on Gale of Darkness without blowing their budgets.
Shadow Pokémon are back on the radar. Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness by Genius Sonority is officially joining Nintendo Switch Online this March, bringing the Orre region’s double battles and purification mechanics to Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement came during the February 2026 Pokémon Presents broadcast alongside a quick trailer:
As part of the GameCube Classics library, the title will be available exclusively to Switch 2 users subscribed to the service tier that includes GameCube games. Its arrival on the subscription service provides an alternative way to access the game without requiring a physical GameCube disc.
Before its confirmation for Nintendo Switch Online, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness had become a high-demand collector’s title on the Nintendo GameCube. Complete copies have frequently sold for over US$150 to US$200 on the resale market, with the graded price reaching well over US$1000.
Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness Brings Orre to Nintendo Switch Online
The game was first confirmed for Nintendo Switch Online when the GameCube catalogue was revealed last April 2025.
Originally released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness acts as a follow-up to Pokémon Colosseum, taking place in the same Orre region. The game centres on a single-player 3D adventure where players travel across desert settlements, battle trainers, and capture Shadow Pokémon from opposing teams.
At launch, the GameCube version supported connectivity with Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Players were able to transfer Pokémon between titles and use them in XD’s multiplayer Battle Mode. Nintendo has not confirmed whether similar connectivity features will be supported through Nintendo Switch Online.
However, Pokémon Colosseum still does not have a confirmed release window on Nintendo Switch Online. In addition, several mainline Pokémon titles, including Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, have yet to appear on the service as well. A Nintendo Switch port of FireRed and LeafGreen has been released separately recently.
Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness launches on Nintendo GameCube: Nintendo Classics for Nintendo Switch 2 on 2 March, 2026. More information about the March rollout and service availability is expected closer to launch.
