GameCube fans and Nintendo Switch 2 owners are treated pretty well to start 2026. Nintendo Switch Online subscription service recently added Fire Emblem: Path of Shining as part of NSO's GameCube exclusive for Switch 2. While this release gives players access to one of the best RPGs on the GameCube, physical game collectors should also breathe a sigh of relief as one of the most expensive retro games is likely to see a massive price drop.
The Fire sign the series has become one of Nintendo's biggest IPs over the past decade. Initially, Fire sign was a Japanese exclusive franchise that didn't see a western release until 2003, with the GBA's Fire sign released This franchise really exploded around 2013 with the release Fire Emblem: Awakening for 3DS and even more fans jumped on the franchise with 2019 Fire Emblem: Three Houses. However, few fans have had the opportunity 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 per year, but GameCube titles are accessible to Nintendo Switch 2 owners at no additional cost.
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Fire Emblem: Path of Shining is the first and only GameCube entry in the series to be released in 2005 and the 9th entry overall. Fans Super Smash Bros. franchises are probably familiar with Ike, who made his debut in this game. But actually being able to play Fire Emblem: Path of Shining is a surprisingly difficult task in modern times, as getting a copy of the game can set fans back anywhere between $100-$200 or even more.
Price of complete edition in box Fire Emblem: Path of Shining it peaked at over $300 back in 2023.
Why is Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance so expensive?
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Limited original sale
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No previous reissues
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A niche series that has become more popular over time
There are a number of factors that influence the high price of a physical copy Fire Emblem: Path of Shining. The first boils down to the game's limited original print run at the time it was released, selling around 290,000 copies in the US alone. Despite Nintendo reporting that the game was one of the company's best-selling titles in 2005, the fact that it came near the end of the GameCube's life likely reduced its potential sales.
Another significant contributor to Path of RadianceThe eye-pleasing price tag is the fact that it was never re-released after its initial launch. While other Nintendo titles from that era and earlier have seen remakes, remasters and reissues in compilations or on the Nintendo Virtual Console, Path of Radiance stuck on the GameCube. As such the only legitimate way to play Path of Radiance until 2026, to buy one of these limited copies of the GameCube title was to compete with a wave of new Fire sign to fans who missed the original release of the title and want to check it out as well.
Retro game collectors should rejoice after Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance hits NSO
As Fire Emblem: Path of Shining becomes more accessible to fans of the series and the demand for physical copies of the game decreases, the retro game market is likely to see a drop in the price of the used game as a result. For GameCube fans looking to complete their collection, there is an addition Fire Emblem: Path of Shining to NSO's GameCube library is a huge win for their wallets. However, the sequel to the Wii game, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawnremains another very expensive title for used game collectors, still costing around $100 per copy. Hopefully Nintendo will add Wii games to NSO in the future, making it possible Fire sign fans easily accessible Bright dawn also.
