How much does a video game cost? That used to be a simple question. When the Nintendo Switch first launched in 2017, full-priced games were $60. Easy. Then, PlayStation and Xbox first-party releases jumped to $70 in 2020. Nintendo followed suit in 2023 with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. But now, with the Nintendo Switch 2, the situation is even more complicated.
Mario Kart World is $80. Donkey Kong Bananza is $70. Not only can the Switch 2 play Switch 1 games I already own, but many titles can get performance upgrades—and even additional DLC—via an Upgrade Pack. Here’s what you need to know before handing over your credit card.
The 3 Types of Switch 2 Games
Before I talk about how much the upgrades cost, I need to explain the three (yes, three) different kinds of games you can play on the Switch 2.
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Switch 2 games: These are native Switch 2 games made exclusively for the console. They feature the Switch 2 logo and are designed to take advantage of the latest hardware. This includes Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as third-party releases like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.
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Switch 2 Edition games: These are Switch games that have performance and visual upgrades over their Switch 1 counterparts. The physical versions of these titles will have the Switch game and Upgrade Pack on the same cartridge. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A are Switch 2 Edition games, and will be labeled accordingly.
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Switch 1 games: Finally, there are just Switch 1 games, since (most of) these can be played on the Switch 2. This means you can play Breath of the Wild or Metroid Dread for free if you already own those games. They won’t have the significant upgrades that come with the Upgrade Packs, but should gain some small benefits simply by running on more powerful hardware.
So, How Much Does an Upgrade Pack Cost?
Instead of having to buy new games to get upgraded versions of the titles you already own, Nintendo allows you to upgrade your Switch games into native Switch 2 games, and basically turn them into Switch 2 Edition games. However, the cost of that upgrade varies widely, depending on how much new content is included.
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$20: Upgrade Packs that include DLC-sized additions for the Switch 2 cost $20. At launch, this includes Super Mario Party Jamboree, which adds camera, mouse, and microphone functionality, as well as other content, to the base game. Kirby and the Forgotten Land, meanwhile, adds new story content and gameplay. The Switch 2 Edition versions of these games cost $80, so it’s the $60 base game + $20 DLC.
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$10: Then there are games with smaller updates that simply receive performance and visual upgrades. For instance, it only costs $10 to upgrade Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom to the Switch 2 Edition. A new copy of BOTW for Switch 2 costs $70 and TOTK costs $80, so the math adds up. However, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers get them for free.
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Free: Finally, some games will receive free upgrades from Nintendo, including Arms, Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Odyssey, Bowser’s Fury, and more. These updates mainly focus on visual upgrades, though some gain frame rate bumps, HDR, and even GameChat support.
What About Third-Party Games?
It’s not just Nintendo games that have unlockable updates for the Switch 2; all developers have the option of offering an upgrade path to players. However, how much this costs will depend on the game. Right now, only a few have been confirmed, but there will likely be more:
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Keep in mind that not all games will offer upgrade paths. You’ll need to re-buy Raidou Remastered, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster, and Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening, for instance, if you want a Switch 2 version of these titles.
About Jason Cohen
Senior Editor, Help & How To
