Nintendo Switch Online Makes a $100 Game Basically Free
GameCube fans and Nintendo Switch 2 owners are being treated quite well to start 2026. The Nintendo Switch Online subscription service recently added Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance as part of the Switch 2’s exclusive NSO GameCube offerings. While this release gives players access to one of the best RPGs on the GameCube, it also should have physical game collectors breathing a sigh of relief, as one of the most expensive retro games will likely see a massive price drop.
The Fire Emblem series has become one of Nintendo’s biggest IPs over the past decade. Initially, Fire Emblem was a Japan-exclusive franchise, not seeing a Western release until 2003, with the GBA’s Fire Emblem released. The franchise really blew up around 2013 with the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening for 3DS, and even more fans jumped onto the franchise with 2019’s Fire Emblem: Three Houses. However, not many fans have gotten a chance to play some of the classic titles, so services like Nintendo Switch Online have been a godsend for the series.
NSO membership still costs $19.99 a year, but GameCube titles can be accessed by Nintendo Switch 2 owners for no extra cost.
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Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is the first and only GameCube entry in the series, which was released back in 2005 and the 9th entry overall. Fans of the Super Smash Bros. franchise are likely familiar with Ike, who made his debut in this game. However, actually being able to play Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance in the modern age is a surprisingly tall order, since obtaining a copy of the game can set fans back anywhere between $100 and $200, or even more.
The price of a complete, in-box edition of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance peaked at over $300 back in 2023.
Why Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is So Expensive
- Limited original sales
- No prior re-release
- Niche series that became more popular over time
There are a variety of factors that go into the high price of a physical copy of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. The first boils down to the limited original print of the game back when it was released, only selling around 290,000 copies in the US. Despite Nintendo reporting that the game was one of the company’s best-selling titles of 2005, the fact that it came towards the end of the GameCube’s life likely cut into its potential sales.
Another major contributor to Path of Radiance‘s eye-watering price tag is the fact that it was never re-released after its initial run. While other Nintendo titles from that era and earlier have seen remakes, remasters, and re-releases as part of compilations or on Nintendo’s Virtual Console, Path of Radiance remained trapped on the GameCube. As such, the only legitimate way to play Path of Radiance up until 2026 was to purchase one of these limited copies of the title on GameCube, competing against the wave of new Fire Emblem fans who missed out on the title’s original release and want to check it out as well.
Retro Game Collectors Should Be Cheering After Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Hits NSO
As Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance becomes more accessible for fans of the series and the demand for physical copies of the game declines, the retro game market will likely see the used game’s price drop as a result. For GameCube fans trying to complete their collection, the addition of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the GameCube NSO library is a massive win for their wallets. However, the game’s sequel on the Wii, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, remains another very expensive title for used game collectors, still costing around $100 for a copy. Hopefully, Nintendo will add Wii games to NSO in the future, allowing Fire Emblem fans to easily access Radiant Dawn as well.