"Nintendo Switch 2 Enhances Original Games"

The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 has finally arrived, and as previously reported, it offers robust backward compatibility with games from the original Switch. However, Nintendo is going a step further by introducing specially enhanced versions of Switch 1 games for the Switch 2. These enhancements are not just limited to graphical improvements and higher framerates but include significant new features and content.

Nintendo has categorized games into three types for the Switch 2: Native Switch 2 games, designed exclusively for the new console; Compatible Switch 1 games, which can be played directly on the Switch 2 using their original cartridges; and Switch 2 Edition games, which are enhanced versions of Switch 1 games with new features and performance upgrades.

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

So What Comes in a Switch 2 Edition Game?

Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct revealed that Switch 2 Edition games will offer more than just basic upgrades. For instance, Super Mario Party Jamboree, originally released for the Switch, will feature a new content suite called Jamboree TV. This will utilize the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, the Switch 2 microphone, and a separately sold USB-C camera. Alongside resolution enhancements up to 1440p in TV mode and improved frame rates, new minigames and online functions will also be included.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a cross-generation title, 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 deliver 120fps in 1080p when docked or 120fps in 720p in handheld mode, all with HDR support.

Other Switch 2 Edition titles will introduce new story content, such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Star-Crossed World add-on. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will receive additional support for the Zelda Notes service in the Nintendo Switch App, providing guides and game help. Meanwhile, Pokemon Legends: Z-A will focus solely on performance and resolution improvements.

When are the Switch 2 Edition Games Coming?

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5, 2025, coinciding with the release of the first batch of Switch 2 Edition games. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be available on launch day. 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 exact dates have not been announced.

Pricing for Switch 2 Editions varies. If you don't own the Switch 1 version, you can buy the Switch 2 Edition at retail, identifiable by its new red-colored physical game case. Digital versions will feature a prominent Switch 2 logo.

For those who already own the Switch 1 version and want the Switch 2 upgrades, an upgrade pack will be available for purchase from select retailers, the official My Nintendo Store, and the Nintendo eShop. The cost of these upgrade packs has not yet been disclosed. Notably, upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, which also provides 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 commitment to backward compatibility and enhanced versions of Switch classics ensures a smooth transition to the new console.

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