• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Physical Games Are Just Standard Switch Games

April 7, 2025 by Dennis Patrick

A new discovery has revealed Switch 2 Edition physical copies will require a download.

Update:

It looks like Nintendo has some mixed messaging as they now state the full game is actually on the cartridge. You can read more about that right here.

Original Story…

Nintendo is just coming off its big week. There was plenty of hype last week around the company, as we knew they would be showcasing the Nintendo Switch 2. Now that there has been some time for the dust to settle, new finer details are coming up online. If you were keen on physically getting the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 edition games, you’d still be forced into downloading some files.

One of the big reveals last week during the Nintendo Direct was that select games would get a Nintendo Switch 2 edition. For instance, the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be available across both generations, along with select past Nintendo Switch games. This would give players who haven’t experienced some of these games a new means to do so.

Likewise, these games would have some enhancements, giving you another reason to enjoy them again or for the first time on the latest hardware. Today, thanks to a post from Does it Play, we’re learning that Nintendo’s own support has confirmed that the Switch 2 edition releases won’t have the full content on the cartridge.

According to Nintendo's own support, the Switch 2 Enhanced Editions were false advertising during the Direct. After trying to nail them down for an answer, they confirmed to one of our followers it's just Switch 1 cards with a code for the upgrade. No reason to buy these, then.

— Does it play? (@doesitplay.org) 2025-04-05T14:34:21.000Z

Instead, it looks like you might be getting the standard Nintendo Switch game physically. Afterward, you’ll get prompted to download the upgrades. That’s a bummer for some who might have wanted the full content stored physically on the cartridge. At the very least, we’re getting a heads-up before the console and games drop.

That said, it’s worth pointing out that you do have upgrade packs coming if you already own a Switch edition of the game. These will cost you, but if a Switch 2 edition is available, you can purchase an upgrade and use your current edition game copy on the upcoming console. If you missed out of the Nintendo Direct, you can view the recap below.

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

20 Flaws GTA 6 Is Trying To Fix

20 Flaws GTA 6 Is Trying To Fix

20 Video Game Trends That Are MAKING A COMEBACK

20 Video Game Trends That Are MAKING A COMEBACK

20 Legendary Games That AGED LIKE MILK

20 Legendary Games That AGED LIKE MILK

10 Weird Gaming Stories of October 2026

10 Weird Gaming Stories of October 2026

GTA6 SIZE REVEALED, ELDER SCROLLS 6 LEAKED? & MORE

GTA6 SIZE REVEALED, ELDER SCROLLS 6 LEAKED? & MORE

Phantom Blade Zero: 10 Things The Game DOESN'T TELL YOU

Phantom Blade Zero: 10 Things The Game DOESN'T TELL YOU

10 Grindy Games So Addictive You'll LOSE Track of Time

10 Grindy Games So Addictive You'll LOSE Track of Time

iPhone Duo - Before You Buy

iPhone Duo - Before You Buy

20 NEW Games That Look Too Good To Be True

20 NEW Games That Look Too Good To Be True

Category: UpdatesTag: Nintendo, nintendo switch 2, Switch 2

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Sony Offers Their Own Customers $ 400 If They Trade In Their PS5 Via 3rd Party Reseller Back Market
  • Rumor: GTA 6 Now Has To Be Played On PS5’s Latest System Update For “Security Fixes”
  • Anthropic Cracks Down On Claude Vibe Coding Ports And Decompilations Of “Existing Games”
  • South Park Shares Preview Of A Dogged Throwdown In GTA 6
  • Roblox Moves Quickly To Delete “Ports” Of Undertale, Halo, And Left 4 Dead On Their Platform

Copyright © 2026 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme