"Switch 2 Games Include Full Game and Upgrade, Nintendo Confirms"

Nintendo has clarified that the Switch 2 Edition games will indeed include both the original game and its upgrade on the same cartridge. This dispels any confusion stemming from earlier reports suggesting otherwise. However, Nintendo also noted that some publishers might opt to release Switch 2 Edition games as download codes within physical packaging, without including a game card.

Here’s the official statement from Nintendo:

“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, the Switch 2 Edition games available 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 editions offer enhancements over their original Switch counterparts. For instance, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now support the Zelda Notes service in the Nintendo Switch App, providing in-game help, and introduce achievements on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

7 ImagesNintendo has also confirmed that some Switch 2 game cards will serve as keys for game downloads rather than containing the game data itself. These game-key cards require a download once inserted into the Switch 2. The packaging for these cards will clearly indicate this on the front lower portion of the box, ensuring consumers know what they are purchasing.

Games such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster use this game-key card system, while Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, the expansive Cyberpunk 2077, which requires 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.