According to a report from Vooks, it appears as if physical versions of “Switch 2 Enhanced” games will contain the full game and its upgrades on the same cartridge. This follows after a Nintendo UK rep stated otherwise.
It’s safe to say that Nintendo has mostly botched the messaging around what the Switch 2 offers to customers as an upgrade. While the idea of “Switch 2 Enhanced” titles makes sense on its own, the wording for what the physical editions of those games are has been muddled. Originally, the packaging read, “Includes the Nintendo Switch game and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack.” Then, a Nintendo UK PR rep “confirmed” to someone that the Switch 2 upgrades would be offered as a download code in the box.
With this Vooks report, it seems that won’t be the case. A spokesperson for Nintendo stated to the outlet:
“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.”
While it’s nice that something like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be fully on the game card, this statement raises some other questions. As it’s worded, it appears as if the game card will exclusively be a Switch 2 game card. That contradicts the wording on the box, which emphasizes that it’s a Nintendo Switch game with the upgrade pack. You then have the bit about publishers opting to include download codes, which makes no sense as Nintendo has introduced game-key cards to prevent that.
Now, I originally believed that these physical versions of Switch 2 Enhanced games would simply be Switch 2 cartridges that didn’t function on the original console. What would be the point of making two SKUs if they’re functionally the same? While you could say that everyone already owns a copy of Breath of the Wild, so the Switch 2 version doesn’t need to have the original game on it, where does that leave something like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond? Why even sell two different cartridges if they both work on Switch 1?
Needless to say, until Nintendo makes an official statement from its social media channels or through a video, you can likely throw all of this information out. Even the previous report of the Switch 2 Enhanced games coming with a download code in the box. Nintendo needs to bluntly state what these versions are to clear the air.
Leave a Comment
Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
