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

Nintendo has officially clarified that the physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include both the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack on the same game card. This statement comes in response to earlier confusion sparked by reports suggesting that these editions might not contain the game itself. 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.

The statement from Nintendo 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."

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 enhancements over their original 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 feature achievements on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

7 ImagesNintendo has also introduced a new type of product for the Switch 2: game-key cards. These are physical cards that contain a key for downloading a game rather than the game data itself. When you insert a game-key card into your Switch 2, you'll need to download the game. These cards are clearly labeled on the front of the packaging, ensuring consumers know what they are purchasing. Examples of games using this format include Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster, while Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not use this system. Notably, Cyberpunk 2077, which requires 64 GB of storage on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical game card.