Nintendo has officially confirmed that games labeled as Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will include both the original game and an upgrade on the same cartridge. This clarification comes in response to earlier confusion sparked by customer service comments suggesting otherwise. In a statement to Vooks, Nintendo emphasized that the Switch 2 Edition games are exclusively on game cards with no need for download codes, although they noted that some publishers might opt for download codes in physical packaging without a game card.
Here's the full 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 lineup includes 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 Switch versions. For instance, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now support the Zelda Notes service within the Nintendo Switch App for in-game assistance and also introduce achievements on the Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes
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Nintendo has also revealed that some Switch 2 game cards will not contain the game itself but instead will serve as keys for digital downloads. These game-key cards, which require you to download the game after insertion, will be clearly marked on the front of the packaging. Titles like Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster use this format, while others such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, Cyberpunk 2077, with its hefty 64 GB size on the Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.
