Nintendo announced that the Game Boy Advance role-playing classic Golden Sun and its sequel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, will be released on Nintendo Switch Online on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Access requires a Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership priced at 34.99 pounds per year.
Fans of classic handheld role-playing games have reason to celebrate as two foundational titles make their way to modern hardware. Nintendo confirmed that the beloved fantasy adventure Golden Sun and its sequel will join the Nintendo Switch Online service. The release brings the two titles to the hybrid console alongside other Game Boy Advance classics such as Metroid Fusion and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
Membership Requirements and Pricing Details
Playing both role-playing adventures on the Switch requires a specific tier of Nintendo’s subscription service. Subscribers must hold a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership which costs £34.99 per year. This subscription unlocks the dedicated Game Boy Advance library where both titles sit alongside earlier additions like Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Super Mario Advance.
Save Data Transfer and Online Battles
Beyond straightforward emulation, the Switch Online versions preserve the interconnected nature of the original releases. Nintendo confirmed through its regional updates that players can transfer save data from Golden Sun to its sequel via communication or password methods, mirroring the functionality built into the 2001 and 2002 originals. Furthermore, the service introduces online battle capabilities, allowing users to test their combat parties against other players over the internet.
Franchise History and Subsequent Releases
Created by developer Camelot, the original Golden Sun debuted in 2001 and earned a reputation as one of the best role-players on the Game Boy Advance. The overarching storyline followed a young earth-magic user named Isaac attempting to prevent the destruction of the fictional world of Weyard by lighting elemental lighthouses. The franchise eventually expanded with two sequels, culminating in 2010’s Golden Sun: Dark Dawn on the Nintendo DS, though protagonist Isaac has more recently kept the series visible by appearing as an Assist Trophy in the Super Smash Bros. series.
Future Additions to the Switch Online Library
The arrival of the Golden Sun duology follows leaks from industry observers, with reliable leaker Pyoro predicting news was imminent regarding a new Game Boy Advance addition to the platform. With these two role-playing titles locked in for January 17, the singular major previously confirmed Game Boy Advance game remaining unreleased on the service is F-Zero Maximum Velocity, which industry speculation places in line for a potential release following upcoming company broadcasts.
