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

Nintendo has officially clarified that games labeled as Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will contain both the game and its upgrade on the same cartridge. This statement comes in response to earlier confusion stemming from customer service comments that suggested otherwise. However, Nintendo emphasized that while their Switch 2 Edition games are fully inclusive on the cartridge, third-party publishers might opt for a different approach by offering these games as download codes within physical packaging, without any game card included.

Nintendo's statement to Vooks reads:

“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 $79.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games on offer include 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 Nintendo Switch versions with various improvements, such as the addition of the Zelda Notes service in the Nintendo Switch App for games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, along with new achievements on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Nintendo has also confirmed the introduction of game-key cards for the Switch 2, which are physical cards that contain only a key for downloading the game rather than the game data itself. These cards require an internet connection to download the game once inserted into the console. The packaging of these game-key cards will feature a clear disclaimer on the front of the box, ensuring consumers are aware of what they are purchasing. Titles such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster utilize this game-key card system, while others like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, the large Cyberpunk 2077, which has a size of 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.