At a Glance
- Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, the lone GameCube entry, is now playable on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
- Physical copies sell for $150-$400 on eBay, making the subscription a budget-friendly alternative.
- Expansion Pack costs $50/year (single) or $80/year (eight-account family plan).
- Why it matters: Rare, pricey retro titles are suddenly accessible for a flat annual fee.
The hunt for Path of Radiance cartridges is over. Nintendo quietly slipped the acclaimed tactical RPG into its highest subscription tier, instantly lowering the barrier to one of the franchise’s most expensive entries.
What’s New on Switch Online
Nintendo added Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the Expansion Pack library Thursday. First launched in 2005, it remains the series’ sole GameCube installment and a long-time collector’s nightmare thanks to a late, low-print release.
- Platform: GameCube (now emulated on Switch/Switch 2)
- Subscribers: Switch Online + Expansion Pack only
- Multiplayer: Online play supported on both Switch and Switch 2
Subscription Breakdown
| Tier | Annual Price | Extras | Retro Libraries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $20 | NES, SNES, Game Boy | Cloud saves, eShop offers, GameChat, Nintendo Music |
| Expansion Pack | $50 (single) / $80 (family) | All above + GameCube, N64, GBA, Genesis, select DLC upgrades (e.g., Breath of the Wild → Switch 2 version) |
Key Takeaways
- Path of Radiance is now playable without shelling out $150+ for a used disc.
- Expansion Pack subscribers gain instant access along with GameCube, N64, GBA, and Sega Genesis catalogs.
- Online multiplayer, cloud saves, and eShop perks come with either tier.
Retro collectors and newcomers alike can jump into Ike’s strategic adventure today-no auction bidding required.
