"Nintendo Switch 2 Enhances Original Games"

The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 has finally arrived, and as we previously reported, it boasts impressive backward compatibility with Nintendo Switch 1 games. However, Nintendo is taking a significant step further by introducing specially enhanced versions of Switch 1 games for the Switch 2. These enhancements go well beyond simple graphical improvements and frame rate boosts, offering a fresh take on beloved titles.

Nintendo has categorized the games playable on the Switch 2 into three distinct types. First, there are native Switch 2 games, designed specifically for the new console and not playable on the original Switch. Second, there are compatible Switch 1 games, whose cartridges can be inserted directly into the Switch 2 and played seamlessly. Finally, there are Switch 2 Edition games, which are Switch 1 titles enhanced with new features and performance improvements when played on the Switch 2.

This categorization does not include the classic games available through Nintendo Switch Online, which offers a rich library of titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and now GameCube.

So What Comes in a Switch 2 Edition Game?

The key highlight from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is that Nintendo is enhancing the gaming experience for those who choose to play the Switch 2 Edition of a Switch 1 game.

For instance, Super Mario Party Jamboree, originally a Switch game, will receive a Switch 2 Edition featuring Jamboree TV, a new suite of content that leverages the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, the Switch 2's built-in microphone, and the separately sold Switch 2 USB-C camera.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a cross-generational game, will support mouse controls with Joy-Con 2 and offer multiple display modes. Quality Mode will run at 60fps in 4K when docked or 1080p at 60fps in handheld, while Performance Mode will offer 120fps at 1080p when docked or 120fps at 720p in handheld, both with HDR support.

For games like Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the Switch 2 Edition will focus solely on performance and resolution enhancements.

When are the Switch 2 Edition Games Coming?

Set for release on June 5, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 will see its first wave of Switch 2 Edition games launching around the same time.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will launch their Switch 2 Editions on the console's release date, June 5, 2025.

Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV and Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s update will follow on July 24, 2025, and August 28, 2025, respectively.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A are slated for release sometime in 2025, though specific dates have not been announced yet.

The cost of Switch 2 Editions varies depending on ownership. If you do not own the Switch 1 version, you can purchase the Switch 2 Edition at retail, easily identifiable by its new red-colored physical game case. Digital versions will prominently feature a Switch 2 logo to ensure you're buying the correct edition.

For those who already own the Switch 1 version and wish to upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition, you will need to purchase an upgrade pack from Nintendo. These packs will be available at select retailers, the official My Nintendo Store, and the Nintendo eShop. The cost of these upgrade packs has yet to be disclosed by Nintendo.

Notably, some upgrade packs, such as those for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, will be included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. This membership also grants access to online features and a classic game library.

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Nintendo Switch Editions

4 ImagesIn summary, the Switch 2 Editions promise to enhance your gaming experience with new features and improved performance. Nintendo's approach to backward compatibility ensures a smooth transition to the Switch 2, complemented by these enhanced versions of Switch classics.

For more details on the Nintendo Switch 2, explore the news from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, including pricing and pre-order information.