Switch 2’s game upgrades are confusing but I’m here to help

Summary

• Only 14 games will receive Switch 2 enhancements at launch, with some upgrades requiring a separate purchase.
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are the first Switch 2 Edition games available for a $10 upgrade.
• Multiple games, such as Super Mario Odyssey and Pokémon Violet, will receive free Switch 2 enhancements at launch.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. After years of anticipation, the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch this week, on June 5. Many pre-orders have already begun shipping, and soon millions will finally have the Switch 2 in their hands.

If you’re excited to play your favorite Nintendo Switch game on the Switch 2 soon, it’s important to note that not every Switch 1 game will receive enhancements for the Switch 2 at launch. Currently, only 14 games are confirmed to receive Switch 2 enhancements on June 5, and unfortunately, not all of those upgrades are free.

What are Switch 2 editions?

Plus up your game library

When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 in April, it announced that it would be releasing Switch 2 Editions of games. These are popular Switch 1 titles that will receive enhancements for the Switch 2 in terms of visual fidelity and frame rates, but they come at a cost to upgrade. However, there are several Nintendo Switch games that will receive free upgrades for the Switch 2 through an update, so it won’t cost you anything for the Switch 2 enhancement if you already own the game.

How to upgrade to a Switch 2 Edition of a game

You’ll need to buy an Upgrade pack from the Nintendo E-Shop

At launch, only two Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games will be available: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. If you don’t already own these games and want to play them, you can pick up the Switch 2 Edition, install it on your Switch 2, and you’re good to go.

However, if you already own the Switch 1 versions of these games (either physically or digitally), you’ll need to purchase what Nintendo refers to as an “Upgrade pack” to experience the Switch 2 Edition. The upgrade pack for both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom costs $10 each and is available in the Nintendo E-Shop on the console, the online Nintendo Store, and at physical retailers offering digital codes. By purchasing and downloading the Upgrade pack, the game will be automatically enhanced when playing it on your Switch 2.

For Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the enhancements truly transform the gameplay, as the Switch 2 Edition features improved frame rates, higher resolution, faster load times, and HDR support. I’m really excited to finally be able to play Zelda at 60FPS, and it’s one of the first things I’m going to do when I get my hands on the Switch 2.

While Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are the only Switch 2 Edition games available on June 5, there are many more on the way. Here’s a list of some titles you can expect to see in the coming months:

• Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (Release date: July 24, 2025)
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land — Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (Release date: August 28, 2025)
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Release date: October 16, 2025)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Release date: TBA 2025)

What Switch games are receiving free upgrades for the Switch 2?

12 games are getting free Switch 2 updates on June 5

While there are only a handful of Switch 2 Edition games coming, luckily there are a ton of free updates coming to other Nintendo Switch titles that will offer gameplay enhancements at no extra cost. Nintendo says these free updates vary depending on the game, but “may improve graphics” and support other features, like GameShare.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are both receiving free updates for the Switch 2, which makes the game run at a higher resolution and 60FPS, a huge improvement from the original Nintendo Switch versions, which arguably looked and ran awful.

Here is a list of the games receiving free Nintendo Switch 2 updates as of June 5, 2025:

• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
• Pokémon Scarlet
• Pokémon Violet
• ARMS
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Game Builder Garage
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

To play the free Switch 2 enhanced version of these games, all you have to do is download the update that is available for them when you insert the game cartridge into your Switch 2. If you own the game digitally, when you download it on your Switch 2, it should automatically install the latest version, which includes the Switch 2 enhancements.

Are any third-party games getting Switch 2 upgrades?

Several updates are coming for popular games

Several developers have announced that they will be adding support for Switch 2 features and upgrades to take advantage of the console’s increased hardware capability. Some announced titles include No Man’s Sky, which will have a free update that will add improved graphics and new city-development mechanics, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar which will have a $10 update that will add mouse controls and better graphics, Civilization VII which will add mouse control support, and Tamogatchi Plaza which is also adding mouse support,