Gamers rejoice! The long-awaited follow-up to the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2, is here. Nintendo released the new console on June 5, alongside Mario Kart World, the next installment in the popular racing franchise, alongside the new console.
The Switch 2 is backwards compatible, so you’ll be able to play your Switch games — albeit with some compatibility issues — and Nintendo is providing free upgrades to some other original Switch games to improve playability on the latest console. Nintendo is also releasing a handful of upgraded Nintendo Switch games that can be played on the new console, called Nintendo Switch 2 Editions.
Here are all the games Nintendo said will get Switch 2 Editions:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 7
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A
While those games are set to be upgraded for the new console, only Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom and Civilization 7 are available now. Switch 2 Editions of the other games will be available later this year.
Nintendo wrote online that the Switch 2 Edition of a game can include visual improvements, new features or additional game modes compared with their original Switch counterparts. For instance, the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition offers faster load times, an additional save slot for you or another person, as well as higher definition and smoother visuals.
The Switch 2 versions of games are available in both digital and physical copies. You can buy and preorder the Switch 2 Editions of some games at retailers like Target and Walmart. The Switch 2 Editions will cost up to $80. If you already own the Switch version of one of those games, you can buy an upgrade pack to play the Switch 2 Edition in the My Nintendo Store or the Nintendo eShop on your console. You can also purchase digital codes for upgrade packs at retailers, which you can then redeem on your console.
In an interview with IGN, Nintendo America’s vice president of product and player experience Bill Trinen said some upgrade packs will cost $10. «For somebody who has bought Tears of the Kingdom or Breath of the Wild, the upgrade packs for those are $9.99,» Trinen told IGN. «If you happen to be a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, both of the Zelda upgrade packs are inclusive within that membership.»
For more on the Nintendo Switch 2, here’s what we know about the console and Switch 2 Editions of games. You can also check out what to know about games like Mario Kart World and The Duskbloods.
