Nintendo has officially confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include both the original game and its upgrade on a single cartridge. This clarification comes after initial confusion spurred by customer service statements suggesting otherwise. In a statement to Vooks, Nintendo emphasized that while the majority of Switch 2 Edition games will be on a game card, some publishers may opt to distribute these games as download codes in physical packaging without a game card.

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 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, priced at $79.99, include titles like 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 gameplay experience significantly. For instance, games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now feature additional support for the Zelda Notes service in the Nintendo Switch App, offering in-game assistance, as well as achievements on the Switch 2 platform.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Nintendo has also clarified that some new Nintendo Switch 2 game cards will not contain actual game data but rather a key for downloading the game. These "game-key cards" require you to download the game after inserting the card into your Switch 2. Each game-key card's packaging will clearly indicate this on the lower front of the box, ensuring consumers are aware of what they are purchasing.

Games such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster are examples of titles using this game-key card system, whereas Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, the expansive Cyberpunk 2077, which requires 64 GB of space on the Nintendo Switch 2, is provided on a cartridge.