Nintendo Clarifies: Switch 2 Games Include Game and Upgrade on Cart

Nintendo has officially confirmed that games labeled as Switch 2 Edition will come with both the game and its upgrade directly on the cartridge. This clarification comes after initial confusion caused by conflicting reports from customer service comments that suggested otherwise. In a statement to Vooks, Nintendo has set the record straight, though they did note that some publishers might opt to offer Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, without a game card.

Here’s the Nintendo statement:

“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, Switch 2 Edition games include titles like 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 enhance the original Switch versions in various ways, with games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom benefiting from additional features such as support for the Zelda Notes service in the Nintendo Switch App, providing game help and achievements on Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Nintendo has also announced that not all new Switch 2 game cards will contain the actual game data; some will instead include a key for game download. These game-key cards are physical cards that, when inserted into your Switch 2, allow you to download the game. The packaging for these game-key cards will clearly indicate this on the front of the box, ensuring you know what you're buying.

Examples of games using this game-key card system include Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster, whereas games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. The expansive Cyberpunk 2077, requiring 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.