No official prices have been shared for Nintendo Switch 2 game upgrades here in the West, but Japan’s prices do provide an estimate.
It was already suspected beforehand, but yesterday’s Nintendo Switch 2 showcase confirmed that select games for the original Switch will see upgraded re-releases for the new console.
Dubbed Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, they’ll all see visual improvements, but some will also come with entirely new content. Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Switch 2 version, for example, adds entirely new modes and minigames that make use of the console’s mouse controls and microphone.
Unsurprisingly, these upgrades won’t be free for those who already own the original games, and while Nintendo hasn’t provided local prices yet, fans have figured out an estimate based on how much the upgrades cost in Japan.
How much will Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game upgrades cost?
As spotted on the Japanese Nintendo Switch 2 website, upgrading to a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of a game can cost either 1,000 yen or 2,000 yen depending on the game. That’s tantamount to about $10 to $20.
Here in the UK, that would be roughly £8 to £15, but no one knows for certain until Nintendo provides official pricing. It could very well opt to make the upgrades cost £10 to £20.
As it stands, the Switch 2 versions of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and its sequel, Tears Of The Kingdom, are the cheapest ones to upgrade at 1,000 yen/$10 each.
This is because all they have are improved frame rates and faster load times as well as exclusive support for a new Zelda Notes service on the Nintendo Switch App that can be used to help you find certain collectibles and share items with other players.
If you own either of the Zelda games and have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, you will be able to play their respective Switch 2 version for free. However, these are currently the only two games included with the service.
Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby And The Forgotten Land, meanwhile, will cost 2,000 yen/$20 each to upgrade since they come with new content. Super Mario Party Jamboree gets the aforementioned new modes and minigames, while the Kirby game is adding a new story mode titled Star-Crossed World.
The only other two games set to receive Switch 2 Editions – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends Z-A – currently do not have upgrade prices.
It’s ultimately not that much different to how Sony handled offering PlayStation 5 upgrades for its PlayStation 4 games, although that attracted controversy at the time since such upgrades were initially free.
Nintendo’s pricing has similarly been met with complaints, particularly with how much new Switch 2 games will cost. Mario Kart World, for instance, is priced at a whopping £74.99 physically and £66.99 digitally.
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