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

Nintendo has officially clarified that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games come with both the original game and its upgrade on the same cartridge. This statement comes in response to earlier confusion sparked by customer service comments suggesting otherwise. However, Nintendo emphasized that while their Switch 2 Edition games will be on a single game card, some publishers might opt to release their versions as download codes within physical packaging, without a game card.

In a statement to Vooks, Nintendo detailed:

“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 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 enhanced features over their original Nintendo 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 assistance, and include achievements on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Nintendo has also confirmed that some new Switch 2 game cards will not contain the actual game but instead will include a key for downloading the game. These game-key cards are physical cards that only provide a download key, requiring you to download the game after inserting the card into your Switch 2. The packaging for these game-key cards will clearly indicate this on the lower front of the box, ensuring consumers are aware of what they are purchasing.

Examples of games using this game-key card system include Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster, while others like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, Cyberpunk 2077, with its hefty 64 GB size on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.