Nintendo may have fixed its Switch 2 GameCube emulator, benefiting the Zelda game Wind Waker

Switch 2 owners who subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack can revisit popular GameCube games. Unfortunately, titles like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and F-Zero GX have suffered from added input latency. The issue makes gameplay less responsive than it is on the older console. Nintendo may have finally corrected its official GameCube emulator in a recent update.

Even in the original Wind Waker, sword attacks and other actions seem delayed. The phenomenon is worse on NSO, where emulation processing adds more latency. Modern displays, which often upscale images, are also a contributing factor.

Gamers began noticing changes after Wario World appeared on December 11th. Opinions vary, but several Switch 2 players are discovering improvements in the Zelda game. As noted by Redditor azer67, speedrunners previously measured a delay of about 6 frames. He estimates that the mark is now 4-5 frames, with a slight but detectable positive effect.

How the update affects other GameCube games

Another GameCube game that may have benefited from the update is F-Zero GX. With the breakneck speeds in the racer, maintaining tight control of the machines is essential. Nintendo’s lackluster GameCube emulator had made players regret selling their consoles.

Impressions on the ResetEra forums suggest that it’s now easier to race competitively. Still, analog sticks remain twitchy, whether in the Switch 2 handheld mode or with the modernized GameCube controller. The over-sensitive controls are a problem that likely needs a separate fix.

Frustratingly for some fans, third-party emulators like Dolphin offer superior performance. Even so, setup is more involved, and a capable PC is needed to realize its full benefits. Nintendo Switch Online and its Classics library are a more intuitive solution, so gamers are welcoming the recent changes.