Summary
- Nintendo Switch 2 may offer enhanced editions of games from the original Switch, according to the Virtual Game Card portion of the company website.
- The presence of Switch 2 Editions teases possible upgrade paths.
- Gamers speculate about what these “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games” might look like.
The Nintendo Switch 2 seems to have received a tease for console-specific editions of games on the Virtual Game Card portion of the company website. Although more details about what these editions offer are yet to come, many believe this to be the first true confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 will offer enhanced editions of titles originally sold on the 2017 Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Switch gamers have been searching for clues about the Switch 2 for a while. In November 2024, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed backward compatibility would be a Switch 2 feature, leading many to believe that the successor would naturally offer upgrade paths to titles that were made for older hardware. Now, some new details may have been revealed.
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A YouTuber known as ActualAero spotted a detail on the Nintendo Switch Virtual Game Card webpage that seemingly confirms Nintendo’s plans to create Switch 2 versions of games. On the page explaining the various uses of Switch Virtual Game Cards, Nintendo left a couple of details bulleted under Asterisks. The first one is related to the availability of these cards on regular Switch models following an update. The second asterisk mentions “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games” and “Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive games,” describing them as separate entities. At the time of writing, this information is still on the website.
Nintendo Website Notes ‘Switch 2 Edition Games’
The existence of the “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” appears to imply that various Nintendo Switch games will have upgrade paths to the Switch 2. Nintendo emphasizes that Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Games, as well as Switch 2 Edition games, can only be played by users with a Nintendo Switch 2. This is likely included there to save some original Switch users from disappointment when a Switch 2 user tries to share the Virtual Game Card of a title they own, even if there is a 2017 Switch Edition. However, this information inadvertently teases a feature many Switch fans have eagerly anticipated.
The presence of Switch 2 Editions of Nintendo Switch games has opened the floor for fan speculation about what titles might get these possible upgrades. Some believe that considering the rumored DLSS capabilities of the Switch 2, the console will be able to automatically run all games with improvements. This could be true, but many expect Nintendo to paywall dedicated upgrades to games in a similar fashion to many PlayStation games, leading to the impression that five-to-20-dollar upgrades will be the standard going forward. This could be a use case for titles like the rumored The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild Switch 2 demo shown at Gamescom 2023. Although this apparent confirmation has come earlier than expected, Nintendo will probably discuss this element of the console at length during its April 2 Direct.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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2025