Nintendo has clarified that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will indeed come with both the game and its upgrade on the cartridge itself. This confirmation comes after some confusion sparked by customer service statements suggesting otherwise. Nintendo emphasized that while the standard for Switch 2 Edition games is to include everything on the game card, some publishers might choose to release these games as download codes in physical packaging, without an actual game card.
In a statement to Vooks, Nintendo provided the following clarification:
“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.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, priced at $79.99, include titles such as 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 versions. For instance, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now support the Zelda Notes service through the Nintendo Switch App, which provides in-game help, and they also feature achievements on the Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes
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Nintendo has also announced that some Switch 2 game cards will serve as game-key cards, containing only a key for a game download rather than the actual game data. These game-key cards require an internet connection to download the game after insertion into the console. The packaging of these game-key cards will be clearly labeled on the front to inform buyers of what they are purchasing.
Examples of games using this game-key card format include Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster. In contrast, games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not use this format, while Cyberpunk 2077, with its substantial 64 GB size on the Nintendo Switch 2, comes fully on the cartridge.
