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

Nintendo has clarified that physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include both the original game and its upgrade on the same game card. This statement was made in response to earlier confusion caused by customer service reports suggesting otherwise. However, Nintendo also noted that some publishers might opt to release Switch 2 Edition games as download codes within physical packaging, without including an actual game card.

Here is the official 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."

The 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 Switch versions, such as additional support for 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 achievements on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

7 ImagesNintendo has also confirmed that some 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 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 be clearly labeled on the front lower portion of the box, ensuring consumers are aware of what they are purchasing.

Games such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster use this game-key card system, while others like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, Cyberpunk 2077, which is a hefty 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, comes on a physical cartridge.