During the Direct at the start of the month, Nintendo laid out their plans for breathing new life into a number of Switch games through a series of free and paid updates. So far we have a number of titles confirmed to be receiving free updates, with the focus being a mixture graphical and performance upgrades, as well as adding support for features like GameShare. Though some of the titles shown aren’t necessarily headliners, I was pretty happy to see both Link’s Awakening and the most recent Pokemon releases in Scarlet and Violet present. These are games that really do need that performance kick, and I’m glad I won’t be needing to pay for it.

The other titles that have been announced are:

• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
• Super Mario Odyssey
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Game Builder Garage
• 51 Worldwide Games
• ARMS
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

When it comes to the paid updates, titled "Switch 2 Editions" by Nintendo, the content you’re going to get seems to vary a little more. On one end of the scale we have Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. These games will feature improved graphics and framerate, with Mario Party specifically naming support for 1440p on the TV, and 1080p in handheld mode. On top of this though, both are getting a seemingly-substantial bit of additional content. For Jamboree this comes in the form of new modes and minigames to make use of the Switch 2’s new features. Though something quite small on paper, the camera support for online parties is something that actually has me quite excited. Mario Party is a game that can get surprisingly heated when playing with friends, and a good amount of that can be diffused as you see them holding back a laugh while your world falls apart around you. Kirby’s update adds a new story: Star-Crossed World. This appears to be a DLC expansion in the purest form, adding new levels with a really striking visual theme.

You can either upgrade your existing Switch game, or buy a new Switch 2 Edition with everything on the cartridge.​

On the other end of the scale we have Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Both of these games aren’t getting any new content, but will support “improved performance in higher resolution”. The varying amounts of detail for each game on Nintendo’s official page is odd, but that’s what we’re working with. Beyond that the games are getting HDR support and a new service within Nintendo’s mobile Switch app in Zelda Notes. You can think of the latter there a helpful tool for your time in Hyrule, allowing you to better track your progress and navigate the terrain. It does seem somewhat handy, though I can imagine most of the people who will be getting access to this are already very familiar with the land, these games being eight and two years old respectively.

Breath of the Wild is in some ways the most notable title of this lineup for it already having DLC to purchase in its Expansion Pass. Since the original announcement of a new release for the game, including a boxed physical version, fans have been left speculating as to whether this DLC will be packaged in for a definitive release. After an interview with IGN, it’s sadly been confirmed that this is not the case. Though the cartridge will contain both the original Switch game and its Switch 2 upgrade without the need for an additional download, you will still be left needing to fork out a further £17.99 for the full experience. This does sting slightly more for the fact Nintendo have released a definitive version of Breath of the Wild in the past that included the DLC on-cartridge, even if it was limited to Asia. It may be of little solace to some, but it is worth mentioning that the upgrades for both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be free to download for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers. This could be setting a trend for the more substantial graphical upgrades that don’t necessarily add extra content to be added to NSO, but that is just speculation from me at this point.

Update 18th April:
As a minor addition to the information above, it has been confirmed via Marvelous' FAQ page for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition cartridges will be compatible with original Switch systems. According to the page, you "simply insert the card into either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console, and the correct version will launch automatically." On the same page, Marvelous also confirm a 64GB game card is being used.

Both the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom upgrades will be free to download for NSO+EP members.​

Though each of these four upgrades will cost you, the amount you’ll be paying varies from game to game. The information we currently have on pricing is a little scattered, so to summarise what has been confirmed for the upgrades:

• Breath of the Wild: 1000 JPY / $9.99 / Included with NSO+EP
• Tears of the Kingdom: 1000 JPY / $9.99 / Included with NSO+EP
• Kirby and the Forgotten Lands: 2000 JPY
• Super Mario Party Jamboree: 2000 JPY

In the UK we also have the physical versions of these four titles available to pre-order, each with the same price of £66.99 when ordered directly from Nintendo. Though this may seem like the cheaper pricing of the Zelda upgrades isn’t taken into account, it should be noted that both Kirby and Mario Party retail for £49.99 directly from Nintendo. This is £10 less than the £59.99 Zelda releases. From this we can assume the standalone upgrades will be around £7 for the Zelda games and £17 for the others, which isn’t too far off the confirmed standalone prices from Japan.

Four Switch games have been confirmed to be getting Switch 2 Edition upgrades.​

And that’s pretty much where we stand right now. Most of the key points have been clarified through a number of interviews, but one question I still have on my mind is whether the new physical versions of these games will make use of the increased read speeds that come with Switch 2 cartridges. If that is the case, users sticking with their original Switch games could be left with an inferior experience unless Nintendo decide to make your Switch cartridges act like a Game Key Card on the new system to make use of its faster internal storage.

Are there any upgrades you’re particularly looking forward to? Are there any games you’re hoping will get this treatment down the line? Let us know your thoughts below.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Overview

 

[pedro702]

After all, PS4-to-PS5 upgrades are free, at least for as long I have had a PS5, no reason Nintendo can't do the same.

And with the possible exception of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, I can't see any justification for it.

there were alot of paid updates to get ps4 to ps5 games...

 

[GengarsGhostlyGiggles]

nintendo is super super greedy lately

 

[Moogley]

After all, PS4-to-PS5 upgrades are free, at least for as long I have had a PS5, no reason Nintendo can't do the same.

And with the possible exception of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, I can't see any justification for it.

There really ISN'T any possible justification, certainly not one that respects the medium. What people need to realize (quickly) is that this signals a Nintendo that does not think of video games as art, at all. They think of them as company products.

Because if it's art, you wouldn't upsell old art with useless new features to the same audience - you would downsize the cost to increase accessibility for a new audience in preparation for new content. Hence, Nintendo Selects and Virtual Console.

But if it's JUST a product, you charge people to "use" the company's property and try to prevent them from "owning" it. That's the long game here, and people really need to vote with their wallets on it because it's getting out of hand.

This will affect more than just Nintendo.

 

[Kioku]

nintendo is super super greedy lately

Lately? While the Switch was a lot of fun, it lacked a lot of that old school “Nintendo magic”. They ported quite a few older titles rather than giving us new ones and charging full price for them. All the while not porting titles people have been begging for (Twilight Princess/Windwaker). They’ve been going standard business practice for the better part of the last decade. After the initial shock subsided, I’ve noticed this greed really isn’t any different than what they have been doing since March of 2017.

 

[Bladexdsl]

nintendo is super super greedy lately

they are living up to their name as the next apple

 

[Moogley]

Lately? While the Switch was a lot of fun, it lacked a lot of that old school “Nintendo magic”. They ported quite a few older titles rather than giving us new ones and charging full price for them. All the while not porting titles people have been begging for (Twilight Princess/Windwaker). They’ve been going standard business practice for the better part of the last decade. After the initial shock subsided, I’ve noticed this greed really isn’t any different than what they have been doing since March of 2017.

It's the same but accelerating, I would say since Furukawa took over. Kimishima launched the Switch well and continued producing stuff for 3DS (which I really appreciated). Once Furukawa was in, 3DS was canceled, microtransaction phone games were in, and it's been remake/port city ever since. It's only gotten worse since Bowser took over here.

The message of the Switch 2 launch is loud and clear: unless a change of leadership happens, there is no Nintendo for now.

 

[SMNFXCN]

What I find really insulting is that they didn't include all the paid updates as part of the of NSO highest tier, just as they never bothered to offer DLC for games other than Animal Crossing, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2.

There's absolutely nothing stopping them from doing this (they're all first-party games after all), which would actually add a lot more value to their service, but they choose not to, which is baffling.

literally this. i could not care less for retro game emulation on switch (i'll happily emulate those on steam deck) i'd much rather be incentivized to pay for NSO to get first party SW2 upgrades + DLC.

or, even better: just give us the damn dlc with the upgrade. bake it into the base game or smth
BOTW will be a 10 year old game in 2 years.

 

[GengarsGhostlyGiggles]

It's the same but accelerating, I would say since Furukawa took over. Kimishima launched the Switch well and continued producing stuff for 3DS (which I really appreciated). Once Furukawa was in, 3DS was canceled, microtransaction phone games were in, and it's been remake/port city ever since. It's only gotten worse since Bowser took over here.

The message of the Switch 2 launch is loud and clear: unless a change of leadership happens, there is no Nintendo for now.

BOWSER TOOK OVER?
Is this some kind of cosmic joke ?

 

[Bladexdsl]

nintAPPLE is lying to you all both brand new launch titles mario party and mario kart don't support 4k!

 

[ertaboy356b]

I have a question about this: When you have a physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of a game (like Breath of the Wild). When you put the gamecard in the Nintendo Switch (not 2), will it play the original (without enhancements) or doesn't it work at all. I am confused about all this, because Nintendo said it will have the original Switch game and upgrade pack on the cardridge, so i assume it can also be played on a original Switch without the upgrade pack. (I am asking this so i know if i can sell my Switch 1 gamecard and just buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, so i don't have to buy that upgrade pack, because iike to have my games physical)

In the fine print, it says Nintendo Switch 1 Cart + Upgrade Pack. Basically, you can play the cart on a Switch 1. When plugged on a Switch 2, it becomes a Game Key cart and will download the Full Game instead. This is just based on the fine print and this is what I believe but better wait for release so we can be sure.

 

[Scarlet]

In the fine print, it says Nintendo Switch 1 Cart + Upgrade Pack. Basically, you can play the cart on a Switch 1. When plugged on a Switch 2, it becomes a Game Key cart and will download the Full Game instead.

Can you link me to that fine print? It seems to contradict an interview:

That 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.

 

[ertaboy356b]

Can you link me to that fine print? It seems to contradict an interview:

I just based it on the actual box case where it says.

"This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition comprises the Nintendo Switch game and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack."

I mean, on first look it says that it comprises of the Nintendo Switch game. Not sure why they have to put it there if it ain't compatible. There's also no point in saying "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack" if it's for Switch 2 only.

Edit: On second thought, I don't think the download game key thing is correct. I still believe it will be a Switch 1 card with Switch 2 patches. If I remember correctly, Nintendo increases the CPU clock speed during loading in BOTW to improve loading speed. I don't think the storage is an issue with the loading but rather the poor CPU.

 

[NitroRevolutionNX]

In the fine print, it says Nintendo Switch 1 Cart + Upgrade Pack. Basically, you can play the cart on a Switch 1. When plugged on a Switch 2, it becomes a Game Key cart and will download the Full Game instead. This is just based on the fine print and this is what I believe but better wait for release so we can be sure.

That's why i originally asked my question. It is confusing as fuck. Because i read it as this as well.

 

[ninjistix]

imma wait for the switch 2 oled version with a bigger display

 

[ertaboy356b]

@Scarlet @NitroRevolutionNX

Looks like Switch 2 edition carts are compatible after all.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a red 64GB game card that includes, in full, the Nintendo Switch game and the Upgrade Pack.

There’s no need to download the full game: simply insert the card into either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console, and the correct version will launch automatically.

Like most modern titles, there may be small updates or patches available at launch to provide minor fixes and improvements, but rest assured: the complete game is on the game card, ready to play from day one.

https://marvelousgames.com/news/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma-nintendo-switch-2-faq

 

[citruspunch]

Im already smelling another Wii U situation. All these upgrade packs, game-key cards, and virtual game cards are very confusing for parents or grandparents, for example.

 

[Scarlet]

@Scarlet @NitroRevolutionNX

Looks like Switch 2 edition carts are compatible after all.


https://marvelousgames.com/news/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma-nintendo-switch-2-faq

Oh damn, great find there. I'll update the main post with the info.

 

[NitroRevolutionNX]

@Scarlet @NitroRevolutionNX

Looks like Switch 2 edition carts are compatible after all.


https://marvelousgames.com/news/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma-nintendo-switch-2-faq

Thank god! Then i can sell my games that have a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, so i don't have two cardridge!

Thanks for the research!

 

[bonkmaykr]

I'm.not against these being paid DLC if they have a reasonable amount of content to show for it but I don't think this will go down well with the fans.