Gale of Darkness Release is a head scratcher

You can always count on Nintendo to entertain and confuse in equal measure, as the company just did with the announcement that Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness coming to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack in March 2026. Make no mistake, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness it's not a bad game by any means, and in fact I'd argue that it's one of the more interesting releases in the series (nostalgia plays into my analysis, of course), but it comes at a strange time, that's for sure.

For those who grew up during the 2000s, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness can be remembered primarily as a “sharper” spin on Pokemon brand, as was the trend of the time. I remember watching Storm of Darkness' box art at GameStop, reading that incredibly melodramatic title and seeing that illustration of Shadow Lugia and my painfully cold fourth grade mind thinking it was the best thing ever. 3D game graphics that were considerably less common Pokemon during that time he also gave Storm of Darkness a certain next-gen feel, like it's the next big step for IP. But even though I could be introduced to this more tween oriented site Pokemon over Storm of Darknessit was actually Pokemon Colosseum which started this spin-off series. So why is it Storm of Darkness show NSO solo?

Despite being a predecessor to Gale of Darkness, Pokemon Colosseum is not yet coming to Nintendo Switch online

When Nintendo first announced the Nintendo GameCube Collection for the Nintendo Switch 2, it teased both Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness. It was clear that the GameCube games highlighted for this NSO subscription level would be added over time, not immediately, so Storm of DarknessComing so many months after the launch of the Switch 2 isn't exactly surprising. What is surprising is the fact that it comes first, without saying when Colosseumher predecessor, will join her.

Click or tap the games that match the category

Not only are they Colosseum and Storm of Darkness narratively connected (both games feature characters like the iconic Mirror B. and the Cipher organization, for example), but the former creates the mechanical foundations for the latter. Everything from the games' art style, to the Snag feature that allows players to catch other Trainer's Pokémon, to the concept of Shadow Pokémon, was introduced in Pokemon Colosseum and only built on it Storm of Darkness.

Why Nintendo can start with Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness and not Pokemon Colosseum and why it's still weird

There are many ways to Storm of Darkness can be considered “better” than Colosseum. For example, the cleaning system that plays a major role in the game's new Pokemon training loop is improved and streamlined for the better in Storm of Darkness. The level design is also greatly improved and there are more Pokémon with more moves to experiment with. In light of this development, it's understandable why Nintendo would want players to experience Storm of Darkness rather than Colosseumsince the first one seems a bit more modern to me, so to speak. It's Nintendo giving the best they can.

But what does it mean when the players start up Colosseum after beginning with Storm of Darkness? It's likely that an older game will feel slower and more outdated than its predecessor, while if players were given the option to start with Colosseumthey will be able to play with a blank slate, then they will better appreciate the improvements Storm of Darkness.

All this provided Pokemon Colosseum is still about to be released in the NSO Expansion Pack service. Launching Storm of Darkness itself could be Nintendo's way of gauging interest in the spin-off duology.

All in all, the decision to debut Storm of Darkness on NSO earlier Colosseum it's not the end of the world, but it's questionable and indicative of the big companies' sometimes confusing approach to game preservation. By choosing which GameCube games are available on the Switch 2, Nintendo seems to be curating its catalog of classics rather than allowing gamers to make their own informed decisions about which classic titles to try.