Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, upgrade packs and free updates explained
By Daniel del Moral Hernández · Updated October 7, 2026
There are three ways a Switch 1 game can get better on Switch 2, and only two of them cost money.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is, in Nintendo’s words, “a bundle that includes the original game and its upgrade pack”. The upgrade pack improves the game on Switch 2. Depending on the game it adds better visuals, new features or whole new modes, and those extras only work on Switch 2.
Upgrade pack
If you already own the original Switch game, physical or digital, you do not need to buy the Switch 2 Edition again. You buy only the upgrade pack from the eShop.
Upgrade packs vary a lot in price and in what they add. Some mainly raise resolution and frame rate, like the two Zelda games. Others add new content, like Jamboree TV for Super Mario Party Jamboree or Star-Crossed World for Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Each game page on this site shows the official US eShop upgrade price when there is one.
Free updates
Some Switch 1 games get a free update instead, which improves frame rate, resolution or HDR on Switch 2 at no cost. Nintendo gave free updates to games such as Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
Which one do you need?
| You own | What to do |
|---|---|
| Nothing yet | Buy the Switch 2 Edition |
| The Switch 1 game | Buy only the upgrade pack, if the extras interest you |
| A game with a free update | Just update it on your Switch 2 |
What upgrade packs cost
We track the official US eShop price of every upgrade pack in the GameSpecsDB database. In October 2026, out of 43 Switch 1 games that improve on Switch 2:
| Price | Games | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 22 | Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Stardew Valley |
| Under $5 | 6 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons ($4.99), Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter ($4.99), Fantasy Life i ($2.59) |
| $9.99 to $10 | 12 | Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the Xenoblade Chronicles games, Civilization VII |
| $19.99 | 3 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Super Mario Party Jamboree |
So half of the improved games cost nothing, and only the three packs that add large new content cost $19.99. The full list with every price is updated as new packs appear.
Upgrades make games bigger
A Switch 2 Edition usually needs more storage than the Switch 1 version, because it adds higher-resolution assets or new content. Some examples from the eShop listings:
| Game | Switch 1 | Switch 2 Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 3.7 GB | 8.9 GB |
| Kirby and the Forgotten Land | 5.8 GB | 16.7 GB |
| Xenoblade Chronicles 2 | 13.2 GB | 37.7 GB |
| Disney Dreamlight Valley | 9.9 GB | 24.6 GB |
| Tears of the Kingdom | 16.5 GB | 20.1 GB |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 10.6 GB | 10.8 GB |
Check the size on each game page before you upgrade a game you keep installed, especially if your storage is nearly full.
Is the upgrade worth it?
It depends on what the pack adds:
- Performance-only upgrades (higher resolution, 60 FPS, HDR, faster loading) are worth it if you play the game a lot or are about to replay it. Tears of the Kingdom, for example, goes from 30 FPS on Switch 1 to 60 FPS on Switch 2 with its $9.99 pack.
- Content upgrades such as Jamboree TV or Star-Crossed World are closer to a small expansion. Judge them like DLC: by how much new content you get for the price.
- Free updates need no decision at all. Just make sure the game is updated on your Switch 2.
If you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom upgrade packs are included at no extra cost.
Common questions
Do I need to keep the Switch 1 cartridge? If you bought the original game on a cartridge, the upgrade pack only works while that cartridge is inserted, because the pack needs the base game.
Does my save data carry over? Yes. The upgrade pack applies to the same game, so you keep your progress.
Can I buy the upgrade pack for a game I borrowed? You can buy it, but it only works when the base game is available on the console, so it is not useful once you return the cartridge.
Sources: Nintendo: About Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, Nintendo Life: all Switch 2 Edition games, upgrade packs and free updates.