TheNintendo Switch 2is right around the corner, and it’s shaping up to be a rather interesting successor console indeed. Despite being buffeted by negative criticism for a number of unpopular or inexplicable decisions (like the choice to make theNintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tourfull-priceinstead of a packed-in tech demo), the Switch 2 is almost certain to land well with a good number of the first console’s fans.
Nintendo has good reason to be confident about theNintendo Switch 2, as it retains the strengths of its progenitor while being considerably, meaningfully more powerful. Its newfound processing power will allow the Switch 2 to run heavy-hitting games likeCyberpunk 2077andElden Ring, but it also opens the door to upgraded versions of Switch 1 releases, which is tantalizing. With the first Switch being so strongly maligned for its considerable lack of power in relation to its Sony and Microsoft counterparts, one can only hope that the Switch 2 will take full advantage of its newfound capabilities, and that starts with the games being ported and enhanced from the Switch 1.
TheNintendo Switch 2 will be fully backwards compatiblewith the Switch 1.
All Enhanced Switch 2 Games at Launch
The following upgrades will be available on the same day the Switch 2 launches, unless otherwise specified.
Switch Games That Get Free Switch 2 Upgrades
Thus far, there are only a handful of original Switch games confirmed for afree upgrade on the Switch 2. Generally speaking, the Switch 2 editions of these games will implement graphical improvements, allowing them to output at higher resolutions, achieve better FPS, and in the case of games likeARMS,Echoes of Wisdom, andSuper Mario Odyssey, HDR support.
Many of these titles will also be updated to support GameChat and GameShare features, like real-time game footage streaming and video chat. This is the biggest enhancement forBig Brain Academy: Brain vs. BrainandClubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, which do not appear to be receiving any notable visual upgrades, likely due to the rudimentary nature of their graphics. It should be noted that not every game in the above list is getting dedicatedGameShare and GameChatsupport:ARMS,Game Builder Garage,Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe,Pokémon ScarletandViolet,Echoes of Wisdom, andLink’s Awakeningare only receiving graphical and performance enhancements.
Switch 1 Titles with Premium Upgrades
Super Mario Party JamboreeandKirby and the Forgotten Landwill cost $20 USD to upgrade, and will include a number of visual and performance enhancements, alongside new content, withMario Partygetting a number of new gameplay modes designed around Switch 2-exclusive features. Meanwhile,Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwill cost $10 USD to upgrade, or they can be upgraded forfree for those with NSO + Expansion Pack subscriptions. Pricing for all the other above titles is to be determined.
As the games industry learned in the early days of the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, charging for access to next-gen features tends to be unpopular, but hopefully Nintendo can offset this with the addition of new content for such premium titles. Some criticism is likely to be expected in this respect, so it will be interesting to see howNintendo’s upgrade pricingstructure is received in the long-run.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on July 31, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
