Nintendo Switch Online appears to have improved input lag in GameCube classics via a recent software update.
According to reports from multiple Reset Era forum members, Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) has fixed input lag issues found in GameCube classics via the latest update. While camera-based latency tests have yet to be performed, the perceived lag has apparently been reduced in most titles. The one exception seems to be 2003’s action-adventure game, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, where the input delay is still noticeably high.
Reset Era member Suketoudara first noticed the improved input lag while playing F-Zero GX after the update. “Not sure if anyone else has picked up on this, but go and play F-Zero GX, it’s very noticeable compared to how it was before,” they said. “I could tell even from the title screen menu. If there is still input lag it appears to have been hugely reduced to a point where I personally don’t notice it in game at all now.”
Fellow member Nintenleo XIV corroborated their claim, saying “Yep, all the games have been fixed… except Wind Waker, I suspect. The game still feels off, somehow. All the other games play like a dream, finally.”
Furthermore, member LuigiV performed a side-by-side with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker running on a real GameCube. “There’s still definitely some emulator lag, playing on real hardware makes that abundantly clear, but it does feel noticeably better than it did at launch,” he said. “Hopefully things will continue to improve, but for now I’d say we’ve upgraded from ‘not great’ to ‘ok.'”
With regards to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it was also pointed out that the original GameCube title also exhibits a slight delay, particularly noticeable when performing the roll. This was likely a design choice, as the large buffer window makes it easier for a followup roll to be performed.
