Nintendo Clarifies: Switch 2 Games Include Game and Upgrade on Cart

Nintendo has officially clarified that games labeled as Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will indeed include both the original game and its upgrade on the same cartridge. This statement comes after some confusion caused by customer service comments suggesting otherwise. However, Nintendo emphasized that while their Switch 2 Edition games will always contain the full game and upgrade on the cartridge, some third-party publishers might opt to release their Switch 2 Edition games as download codes packaged in physical boxes without a game card.

Nintendo's official statement to Vooks was clear: "Physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e., they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code). Alternatively, some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, with no game card."

Priced at $79.99, some of the notable Switch 2 Edition games include Kirby and The Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. These enhanced editions offer improvements over their original versions on the Nintendo Switch, such as additional support for the Zelda Notes service through the Nintendo Switch App, and the introduction of achievements on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Nintendo has also introduced a new concept for the Switch 2: game-key cards. These are physical cards that contain a key to download the game rather than the game data itself. When you insert a game-key card into your Switch 2, you'll need to download the game. These cards will be clearly labeled on the front lower portion of the game box, ensuring consumers know exactly what they're buying.

Examples of games using game-key cards include Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster, while others like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not use this system. Notably, Cyberpunk 2077, which requires 64 GB of space on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a traditional game cartridge.