Surprise! Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has just been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library. Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, it didn't reach Western audiences until 2005. This game narrates the captivating story of twin heirs, Eirika and Ephraim, as they battle to liberate their kingdom of Renais and unravel the betrayal of their former ally.

For many, this marks the first chance to experience The Sacred Stones. Launched 20 years ago, it was only the second Fire Emblem title to be released outside Japan and the last one developed for the GBA. We at IGN gave Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones a solid 8.5/10 back in 2005, describing it as: "Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is to the original Fire Emblem just as Advance Wars 2 was to the original Advance Wars. It's only a letdown in the sense that all this game really offers is an entirely different storyline on top of the pre-existing gameplay built for the GBA Fire Emblem released in 2003."

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based online gaming service for the Nintendo Switch platform. It offers online multiplayer capabilities for gaming with friends, and a rich catalog of classic Nintendo games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and soon, the new GameCube libraries with the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. A free seven-day trial is available for those interested in trying out the service.

Speaking of the eagerly awaited new console, the Nintendo Switch 2 was originally slated to launch on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date faced a delay in the United States due to import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which caused upheaval in financial markets. As a result, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will now commence on April 24, maintaining the price at $449.99.

You can register your interest with Nintendo to receive notifications about pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories via the My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be distributed by email on a first-come, first-served basis, giving priority to users who have a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and have logged at least 50 gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025.