Nintendo Confirms Switch 2 Edition Upgrades Will Be On Cartiridges After All

Summary

• Nintendo has released new information about its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition carts that contradicts prior messaging.
• Turns out the whole game, including the upgrades, will be included on the cartridges after all.
• Nintendo previously claimed the original game would be on the cartridge and the upgrade would be a download.

Last week, Nintendo made the disappointing confirmation that the upgrades included with its Switch 2 Edition games will not be included on the cartridges. Now a different Nintendo spokesperson has claimed that won't be the case at all.

During the Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo revealed four of its original Switch games are getting Switch 2 Editons, as well as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which will have versions on both consoles. The Switch 2 Editions will get physical releases - two at launch, one in July, and then the fourth in August - with Nintendo revealing the original Switch games will be on the cart, but the Switch 2 upgrades will be applied via a one-time download.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrades Pre-Order Guide: Prices, Release Dates, And Upgrade Paths

Everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch 2 edition games and their upgrades, including prices and release dates.

Disappointing for several reasons as that meant not being able to share the game with others, and it also takes away the option to sell or trade in the game once you're finished with it. In a statement to Vooks, Nintendo has now claimed the exact opposite. "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," the spokesperson confirmed.

Everything Included With A Physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Will Be On The Cart

Despite Nintendo Confirming The Exact Opposite Less Than A Week Ago

Nintendo added that other publishers may include digital downloads in physical packaging with no game cart, but that will not be the case for the Switch 2 Editions nor its other first-party games. Even third-party publishers likely won't be opting for that very often, though. Cyberpunk 2077 appears to have been squeezed onto a single Switch 2 cartridge, and if that game doesn't need to be entirely or partially downloaded to work on a Switch 2, it's hard to think of a game that will.

The first of Nintendo's Switch 2 Editions will be released on June 5, 2025, the same day as the Switch 2. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be the first two games, and if you already own them on Switch, you will be able to buy the upgrades for $9.99 each. Even better, if you're subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, the upgrades are included with your plan.

Kirby and The Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree's Switch 2 upgrades will follow later, but they do not appear to be included with the NSO Expansion Pack. It also seems almost certain at this point that they will be more expensive. $19.99 each since they will include additional content as well as visual upgrades and gameplay enhancements.

Nintendo Switch 2