Short answers, pulled from the story.
The GameCube launched in North America on the 18th of November 2001, with over 700,000 units shipped to retailers. The launch was delayed from the originally planned November 5 date to increase unit availability.
Nintendo sold 21.74 million GameCubes worldwide during the console's lifespan from 2001 to 2007. This fell well short of Nintendo's forecast of 50 million units by 2005, and placed the GameCube behind the Xbox at approximately 24 million and far behind the PlayStation 2 at 155 million.
The GameCube underperformed due to a combination of a toy-like design that alienated older players, limited third-party support, the absence of major franchises like Grand Theft Auto, and an audience skewed younger than the broader gaming market. Lack of DVD playback was also a frequently cited disadvantage against the PlayStation 2.
Super Smash Bros. Melee was the GameCube's best-selling game, with more than 7 million copies sold worldwide. It was a sequel to the Nintendo 64 title and remains one of the most played competitive fighting games.
Pikmin, Luigi's Mansion, and the home console debut of Animal Crossing all began on the GameCube. Chibi-Robo! also debuted on the platform, and Metroid Prime relaunched the Metroid series after its absence from the Nintendo 64 era.
The GameCube controller has been supported on every subsequent Nintendo home console. On Wii U and Nintendo Switch, it can be used via a USB adapter for Super Smash Bros. titles, and the Nintendo Switch recognizes it as a Pro Controller, allowing use in any compatible game.