Switch 2 Edition cartridges will include both the game and its upgrade, Nintendo confirms
After a Nintendo representative claimed that the physical releases of Switch 2 Edition Switch 1 games would include a download code for the upgrade rather than being on the cartridge itself, the company clarified that this is not true.
The details:
Last week, following the announcement that a number of Switch games would receive next-generation upgrades to take advantage of the Switch 2's improved hardware, fans questioned if the physical releases of the games would include the upgraded game on the cartridge. It was later revealed that a Nintendo customer service representative stated that Switch 2 Edition games would include a cartridge for the original Switch version, with the upgrade available through a download code included in the box.
However, Nintendo clarified in a statement to Vooks that this is not the case, as the cartridges will be designed specifically for use with the Switch 2 and will include both the game and its respective upgrade pack. "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 (ie. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code),” a company spokesperson said.
While Nintendo's first-party titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Party Jamboree, will be released on cartridge, the spokesperson stated that some third-party publishers may choose to release the full digital download code instead. This has become increasingly common in recent years, particularly among smaller companies, as it allows them to sell a game on retail shelves without having to pay for the production of physical cartridges. "Alternatively, some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, with no game card," Nintendo explained.
Switch 2 Edition games are available for purchase individually or as upgrade packs for Switch 1 owners. The upgrades cost around $10, and some games, like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, are included as part of the Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. However, Switch 2 upgrades can cost up to $20, with Kirby and the Forgotten Land boasting all-new exclusive content akin to an expansion.
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