Nintendo: Switch 2 Physical Games Include Full Version

Nintendo has officially stated that Switch 2 Edition game cartridges contain both the original game and the upgrade on a single cartridge.

Previous uncertainty stemmed from mixed messages based on customer service remarks, which had led some to believe the Switch 2 Edition might not include the full game.

In a statement provided to Vooks, Nintendo confirmed that isn't the case. However, the company noted that certain publishers might opt to release Switch 2 Edition titles as digital download codes inside physical cases, with no game card included.

Here is Nintendo’s official statement:

“Physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will feature the original Nintendo Switch title and its upgrade pack together on one game card (meaning they are dedicated Switch 2 cartridges, not requiring a download code). Alternatively, some publishers may choose to sell Switch 2 Edition games as downloadable codes in physical packaging, without any game card inside.”

$79.99 Switch 2 Edition titles include Kirby and The Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.

These Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games offer various improvements over their original Switch counterparts. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now include added support for the Zelda Notes feature in the Nintendo Switch App, offering in-game assistance. They also introduce achievement systems on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Nintendo also recently confirmed that several upcoming Switch 2 game cards will not always contain the actual game data, but rather a code to download the game.

Switch 2 game-key cards are physical products that only include a code to download your selected game. This means there is no game data stored on the card itself, so a download will be required after inserting the card. Each game-key card’s packaging will be clearly marked on the lower front section of the box, so shoppers can easily identify the product type before purchasing.

Titles such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster come with this game-key card notice. Others, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, do not. The massive Cyberpunk 2077, which requires 64 GB of storage on Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.