Summary
One of the first thingsNintendorevealed about theSwitch 2was the small handful ofOG Switch games that will be getting paid upgradesthroughout 2025. There are a lot of notable omissions from that list, and it seems many of them will be getting smaller updates on launch day, the upside being you won’t have to pay for them.
Nintendo has published a list of Switch gamesthat will get free Switch 2 upgrades on the next-gen console’s release day, soJune 5, 2025. There are 12 games in total getting free updates on launch day, and what exactly those updates will include depends on the game. Some will be getting GameShare support, allowing you to play them with more people locally and online while supporting the Switch 2’s GameChat feature.
Ten of the 12 games will be better-looking on Switch 2, the updates giving them a visual upgrade. Perhaps most notable for this update, in particular, among those ten isPokemon Scarlet & Violet. The latest mainlinePokemongames were poorly received at launch due to issues with how they look. It seems they’ll look a lot better on Switch 2, and they’ll look smoother too with a framerate boost also included in the free update.
The only two games not getting visual enhancements are 51 Worldwide Games and Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain, which in Nintendo’s defense, don’t really need them.
12 Switch Games Will Get Free Switch 2 Updates On June 5
Which Probably Means No Paid Upgrades For These In The Future
Super Mario Odysseyis the other big game among the 12, and potentially the one those buying a Switch 2 will be the most disappointed by. Although its free update will include enhanced visuals and HDR support, withBreath of the Wildgetting a full, paid upgrade that comes with additional features, some hoped Odyssey might get the same. Now that Nintendo has confirmed a free update, that almost certainly rules out a bulkier paid upgrade in the future.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury,The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, andCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker. You can find a full list of the 12 games getting free updates, and what those updates will bring to each game, below. As for the paid upgrades, Breath of the Wild andTears of the Kingdomare first with $10 upgrades, and thenKirby and The Forgotten LandandSuper Mario Party Jamboreewill follow, their upgrades costing $20 each.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 pricing has come under fire ever sinceit revealed Mario Kart World will be an $80 game, sparking a domino effect that led toXbox joining its new triple-A standard.EA has claimed it doesn’t plan to make the $80 leapjust yet, butRandy Pitchford strongly suggested Borderlands 4 will be an $80 title.
