GameCube fans and Nintendo Switch 2 owners are treated pretty well starting in 2026. The Nintendo Switch Online subscription service has recently been added Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance as part of Switch 2's exclusive NSO GameCube offerings. While this release gives players access to one of the best RPGs on the GameCube, it should also make physical game collectors breathe a sigh of relief, as one of the most expensive retro games is likely to see a massive price drop.
The Fire emblem the series has become one of Nintendo's biggest IPs of the past decade. Initially, Fire emblem was a Japan-exclusive franchise, not seeing a Western release until 2003, with the GBA's Fire emblem was released. The franchise really blew up around 2013 with the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening for 3DS, and even more fans jumped on the franchise with 2019's Fire emblem: Three houses. However, not many fans have had the 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 per year, but GameCube titles can be accessed by Nintendo Switch 2 owners at no additional 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 Super Smash Bros. franchise is probably familiar with Ike, who made his debut in this game. However, actually being able to play Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance in modern times is a surprisingly tall order, as getting a copy of the game can set fans back anywhere between $100 and $200, or even more.
The price for a complete, in-box edition of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance peaked above $300 in 2023.
Why Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is so expensive
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Limited original sales
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No previous reissue
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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 original limited edition of the game when it was released, selling only about 290,000 copies in the US. Although Nintendo reported 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 reduced its potential sales.
Another great contributor to Path of Radiances eye-catching price tag is the fact that it was never re-released after its initial run. While other Nintendo titles from that era and before have seen remakes, remasters and re-releases as part of collections or on Nintendo's Virtual Console, Path of Radiance remained trapped on the GameCube. As such, it is the only legitimate way to play Path of Radiance until 2026 was to buy one of these limited copies of the title on GameCube, to compete against the wave of new Fire emblem fans who missed the title's original release 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 Radiance becomes more accessible to fans of the series and the demand for physical copies of the game decreases, the retro game market will likely see the price of the used game drop as a result. For GameCube fans looking to complete their collection, the addition of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the GameCube NSO library is a huge win for their wallets. But the game's sequel on the Wii, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawnis yet 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 Brilliant dawn also.
