Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Game Upgrade Pack Prices Seemingly Revealed (Japan)

Seems reasonable. Here’s hoping the dollar estimates are correct.

I feel like their messaging could’ve been better with Switch 2 Edition pricing. They didn’t even mention that Zelda upgrade is free with NSO or that like 10 other 1st party games are getting free Switch 2 Edition updates.
$10-20 for the amount of content and improvement for something like Zelda, Jamboree or Kirby is a great price IMO.

They can charge what they want, I’m fine with versions I already paid for personally. With game prices increasing I will probably be more selective about games I buy on switch, exclusives I really want and buy the multiplats for pc handheld.

@Medic_alert The same exact thoughts here, with Switch 1 games costing between £35-£40 that’s a big leap, and whereas Nintendo fans might be willing to pay that, families on a budget may decide £70 a game is too much.

I was hoping for 5-10$ but 20$ doesn’t seem bad at all.

Cool. I will be simply double dipping since I need digital versions, but glad the upgrade path is an option.

Glad its (free) included with the switch online expansion. Makes it worth for me.

greediness at its finest!

@cra1g0s I don’t think family/people on a budget necessarily needs a brand new console/ games to be happy. Like yes obviously that’s really fun to have what’s current but the original switch will probably become more affordable and there’s a large catalogue of great games that can be found at good price both new and used.

To me there’s still a lot of worth to be found in games that have been already released even compared to new stuff.

@Greatluigi oh yeah, nintendofans are even worse than psfans

had the price been like 30-40, you would have said "Id expected like 20, but doesn’t seem bad at all."

@BlackenedHalo Games like Mario Odyssey or Link’s awakening will have free updates, IF there’s a substantial amount of work that was made (like Kirby getting what’s seems like the equivalent of a big dlc) I don’t think having to pay a small amount is that bad personally.

The upgrades are really great. I'll definitely make use them. I wonder if 120fps at 1080p will be possible?

Remember when the PS5 released and most upgraded games were free? People were kicking off about the few ones that were paid.

This and the base price of games is putting Sony's greediness to shame.

@BlackenedHalo These are sizable upgrades and free from Expansion Pack members. While games like Odyssey and Links Awakening will be upgraded free for everybody. I really don't think this is bad at all.

If I got a Switch 2, I'd get these updates anyway with NSO.
But still seems grubby to me.

The amount of corporation defending here is baffling:

“I was hoping for 5-10 but 20 is fair!”

Not to mention how that’s a dangerous precedent to set, and now how games like BOTW that are 8 years old are now back to a new high of £70 retail is bloody insane. I don’t know anyone can defend the way these upgrades are working for some of these titles.

Basically to upgrade a 10yr old hame (which on ps4 and ps5 would cost 10/20 quid) nintendo charges 10/20 quid.
They deserve a boycott this time

From my understanding, it will be something like 10 bucks for only graphical upgrades (as in Zelda) and 20 when some new content is included (Mario Party, Kirby). Seems pretty fair to me !

(Oh, and some of these updates will be included in NSO+, so there's that !)

@DonJorginho For Kirby and Mario Party it's basically a pretty normal $20 DLC that's Switch 2 exclusive.
Older games like BotW should have gotten permanent price cuts at this point though, but I imagine, even if they did do permanent price cuts very big sellers like BotW and Mario Kart would simply be excluded. It does suck.

Idk why they put $15. Adjusting for conversion rate is pointless in this situation. But a rule of thumb from someone who lived in Tokyo; if you see something like 1000 yen, put a . Two 0's in and you got the equivalent of what it technically should be here (US). That works with everything, so 10000 would be $100.00. Largely they were right, in theory normal upgrades are $10, while dlc upgrades are $20. imo, since dlc is usually $20ish anyway, the performance update is just a bonus.

@Bobobiwan BotW and TotK do get some additional content through that phone app, but just not that much. Those two are so far the only ones confirmed for NSO+. That's why they aren't completely free to upgrade like other games.

@BTB20 Kirby and SMPJ are the two upgrades I totally get being 20 as it’s essentially a whole DLC tacked on.

But some other games locking the performance toggles behind a paywall doesn’t sit right with me, especially when that now correlates with MSRP for these old games being raised to new levels.

Naive parents buying something nice for their kids will suffer through a convoluted system.

Some dudes saying that 20$ “ain’t that bad” for (in some instances) a mere upscale and vsync removal need a reality check.

@DonJorginho I agree. It's definitely Kool-Aid time!

@Theghostofkeithmoon it really sucks as I was so damn hyped after the direct, even if the launch titles weren’t all to my taste, it seemed like such a big jump in hardware and some of the games were amazing like MKW.

Nintendo shot themselves in the foot when they had the easiest open goal to win another generation.

Sony PS3 vibes are very high.

I thought the games were going to be 70 Euro and was already on the fence, but if they are going to be 80 Euro that really makes me wonder whether to bother getting Switch 2. Certainly not a release day must buy for me anymore. If the games are discounted now and then down to 50-60 I would be a lot more tempted.

I really thought that these upgrades /updates would be for free. A bit of let down they are changing for it.

@Medic_alert 😭💀

I'll get the Kirby one as that's extra content.
Glad the Zelda ones are free, they didn't seem to add much more.

News goes fast: European retailers are listing these Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games for 74,99 euros and 79,99 usd in the US. Which makes the value of these upgrades around 10 dollars.

@DonJorginho I also thinks it’s really ugly to resell the games for a high price but like … any smart person will just buy a used copy of the switch version and pay the small fee for the upgrade. It’s gonna be the affordable solution.

Really sucks for the general public.

@BlackenedHalo nah man that’s a bit too pricey.

Also for anyone curious it seems that games that have a small upgrade like higher FPS and better graphics will be free since scar/vi will be getting a free upgrade.

They will cost 20 dollars because people have found listing for Switch 2 enhanced games and they all seem to cost 20 dollars more then the original price. Quite a few are priced at 80 dollars. That high price is not going or be unique it seems but it looks like Nintendo plan on it being regular for some of its key IP. Even games several years old!!.
Those in Japan said it looks like prices are a bit cheaper there but they have region locked the Switch 2 to prevent you getting cheaper games.

Tear of kingdom should get Master Mode

Very reasonable prices.

When these were announced I was thinking I’m definitely getting new Switch 2 Zelda cartridges with the completed version of the game plus the upgrades. But not only are the prices too high to consider that, YOU’RE NOT EVEN GETTING THE UPGRADE ON THE CARTRIDGE! I’m holding out. I played and beat those games. I can wait.

You should be able to upgrade Kirby and the Forgotten Land for $10 without having to get the expansion if you don't want it. The Expansion just kind of looks like repurposed content and not a whole lot of new assets as far as I can tell, so I'm not all that interested yet.

I'm mostly positive for Switch 2, but idk how I'm feeling about these paid upgrades. I guess it's warranted for Mario Party and Kirby. Just not for me I guess!

I’m a bit scared now how expensive NSO will be

@Old-Red there is a list of games that will receive free performance boosts. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-is-getting-a-free-performance-upgrade-on-switch-2

All these ‘switch 2’ edition games additionally receive extra functionality and content.

What this amounts to is milking gamers for more money and milking BOTW for another 4-8 years at full price. As for the Zelda’s being included it the NSO+ subscription, what happens when you don’t renew the NSO+ subscription a year later? Do you lose access to these updates for BOTW & TOTK?

I hope the upgrade brings the menu QoL improvements from TOTK to BOTW.

It makes sense that the Kirby one is more expensive since it seems to have some actual new content, not just upgrades to visuals.

I figured 15-20 range was gonna be the way. That's pretty reasonable

These types of upgrades have been free of charge on Xbox this whole generation, so it seems kind of greedy from Nintendo to charge so much for it in the light of that. But Nintendo have always been greedy, so I’m not surprised.

@Medic_alert I reckon they'll be £55 in Argos/Smyth's etc. TOTK cost me £50 so not a huge leap.

Was expecting around that price point, similar to what ps5 had with a lot of cross gen titles at least for some we are getting bonus content, maybe this how we will finally get odyssey dlc??? 😅

@Pat_trick
PS4 to PS5 upgrades are absolutely not free, they are almost always $10 upgrades, which is similar to what Nintendo is doing here with Switch to Switch 2 upgrade packs.

The Zelda updates annoyed me a lot. I don't mind the cost for an upgrade... I mind the fact it's 2025.

I'm not going back to BotW in 2025 to use a smart phone app as a map. This should have been done AT THE TIME or certainly with TOTK launch?!

If someone could explain why Nintendo couldn't add mobile phone app as a map before Switch 2?!

Talk about late to the party!

Also, stop faffing about with this nonsense and just release Twilight Princess on Switch...

@nocdaes I find it more baffling they release the game cube version of Zelda Wind Waker in NSO expansion pack, while they have the amazing remake of this game rusting away on the WiiU!!!!

Together with Twilight Princes HD, that is an even bigger crime in my book!

Not to mention the amazing Link wolf amiibo dusting away in a drawer. /sigh

Especially the last 2 years have frankly been quite abysmal with first party releases from Nintendo on the Switch 1, that they easily could have re-released those two Zelda games as a bridge towards the Switch 2 release.

Well super smash Brothers ultimate be playable on Nintendo switch 2?

@westman98 You're wrong.

My proof:
https://www.pushsquare.com/guides/ps4-to-ps5-all-games-with-confirmed-free-upgrades

This list cites dozens of games with free updates.

In fact most of them were free when the PS5 released.

@Pat_trick Those were already released / old games on PS4 that were simply made compatible to run on PS5 LOL!

Newer games that actually released on both PS4 and PS5 simultaneously you had to pay a 10 dollar upgrade fee if you had bought the PS4 version and want to run the PS5 version.

I know, as I have both PS4 and PS5 and had to pay 10 bucks for some of the newer games I bought on the PS4, since I only got the PS5 less than 2 years ago.

This is also, because PS5 games are 10 USD/Euro more expensive.

So now we see the same thing happening with the Switch 2. Where new Switch 2 titles will have a 10 bucks price increase.
Some games, with significant GFX update will have a 10 bucks upgrade price tag, while a bunch of Switch 1 titles will have a free upgrade (i.e. Nintendo basically not doing anything, as the improved hardware of Switch 2 will give better performance for free).

@Jeronan Is Breath of The Wild a new game? Tears of the Kingdom?

Your argument fell apart in your first sentence.

Edit:

You're also wrong about them just being made compatible, they had some minor graphic and frame rate improvements.

Witcher 3 was entirely revamped for the PS5.

Horizon Forbidden West was also improved.

Some of the improved games were free upgrades for a long period before you had to pay the $10.

I bought my PS5 less than one year after it released and upgraded a lot of games for free, even disc based ones.

seeing as i never bought a Switch , ill be purchasing some old Switch games to play. and the odd new Switch 2 game, Metroid switch 2 version, Donkey Kong and looking forward to the Dustbloods from FROM software.

the improved storage will be great for Switch one games due to taking up less space. But Ill go mostly physical .

Its a big outlay £395 plus a game, and a Pro controller. But as I have Yakuza Kiwami on Switch order from Limited Run , Ill be playing that a lot. As I'm at the end fight in Yakuza 0 on Xbox. .

I await the 8th to get my pre-order in .

why are Pokemon, Links awakening and Echoes of wisdom getting free Switch 2 updates but BOTW + TOTK are paid? (Technically free with NSO)

I assumed the upgrades would cost something and they're basically in line with my expectations. In a vacuum, this wouldn't mean much but with the context Nintendo has to know this won't go over well.

Also, PS did charge people for some upgrades and it looks like Nintendo isn't charging for all. So, I will wait and see before reacting. Though I won't lie, Kirby and the Forgotten Land has me wanting to upgrade and I'm 100% getting the Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4. I do expect some more free third-party upgrades, though. MH Rise, anyone?

@Pat_trick Those are 3rd party studio decisions to make an upgrade for free or not.
Just like CDProject Red offered a free major GFX update to CP2077 with RTX, etc. Same for Witcher 3 with the nextgen update.

When it comes to Nintendo, the two Zelda games will get a major GFX upgrade, with better visuals and support 4K 60 FPS among things, hence the upgrade price tag.
Just like with the PS5 versions I had to pay 10 bucks for, where the PS4 version was locked to 1080p.

The other games, like Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get a free upgrade, since they not going to do anything with those games other than unlock the 30fps framerate lock (like what was leaked some time ago) to enable a speed bump in performance on the Switch 2. They won't get any visual upgrade nor support for 4K 60FPS. Probably not even DLSS support for upscaling. Hence why it will be free.

@Jeronan Fair enough.

I would still qualify the Zelda updates in the same group as Horizon Forbidden West and other PS5 games that were upgraded for free.

I agree with your point on the other ones.

@Pat_trick Again! Because there was no significant difference between the PS4 and PS5 with Forbidden West. This game did not have a native PS5 version. The PS5 upgrade was free, because it mostly just unlocked 60fps and offered 4K 30fps upscaling in quality mode. On PS4 Pro you could run it at max.1800p 60fps.
So on the PS5 you basically just got the quality mode option that upscales to 4K 30fps.

So, again 2: Paid PS5 version upgrades offer a native PS5 version of the game with native 4K support. Hence the upgrade price tag.
Again, that some third party publishers offered such upgrades for free, that is their own decision outside of Sony. Also, since these free upgrades are/were on multi platform games available also on XBOX and PC. Like CP2077, Witcher 3, etc.
So Sony would have shot themselves in the foot (and created another outrage), if they enforced a 10 bucks upgrade price tag for all publishers on PS5, while players on XBox and PC could get it for free.

I can't remember any company offering to upgrade my old DVDs of films to Blu-Ray for free, so it makes sense there'd be a price attached to getting your old-gen games updated. Even in the instances where films were sold as DVD/Blu-Ray combined during those years where people were still adopting the technology they'd routinely bump the price by ten or twenty percent otherwise all anyone would ever do is buy the old stuff and upgrade it for free.

@Jeronan And AGAIN, the Zelda games are getting better resolution, frame rates and better lighting just like Forbidden West, God of War and Spider-Man.

It's not a remake, it's not even a remaster.

The only difference is the wording used.

While I would really like to have at least a discount on these upgrades for being an NSO subscriber, Nintendo has made no indication that they intend to allow a free upgrade for additional games beyond BOTW and TOTK. Nothing in the wording teases that. It seems more like those two are a bonus perk for being a subscriber, in the same way we got DLC for MK and ACNH and Splatoon 2, in the past. I hoped that would be a recurring thing where they added more and more of those, but it has not been so.

This looks to be about the same amount of addition as the Luigi's balloon world update for Odyssey. I don't think it's really going to add much additional to the game that isn't already there. However, I'm glad that Kohga's voice actor was reused after his amazing performance in Age of Calamity!

Guess I'll be picking up the NSO + Expansion Pack now.

So glad the physical releases of these upgrade packs just include the Switch 1 game with presumably a key to download the upgrade pack on the cartridge, because I have no desire to pick up any of them when the box art for all of them look atrocious compared to the NS1 box art!

That's what I expected and a completely reasonable price. Would I prefer a free upgrade like Series X provides? Absolutely. But this is reasonable and right on par with Sony's PS4 to PS5 upgrade costs.

PLEASE STOP SAYING THIS:
"One other important note - Nintendo has also confirmed Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers will be given access to certain upgrade packs at "no additional cost".

You NEED an ACTIVE account or you lose access!

@Jeronan Since 10-ish years Nintendo strategy with Zelda seems to have been releasing 1 game every year including the Warriors and spin-offs. Just because this year it’s Warriors 3 doesn’t mean it might not happen next year or later on 🙂

Welp, Sony did handle this way better and we called them greedy...all the games that had native PS5 versions offered free upgrades to native Ps5 versions for the first couple of years in exchange of what they are offering (better fps/resolution)

@SearchingS Yeah. I also really wanted a new Trial of the Sword and fully powered Master Sword in TOTK.

I would have preferred $10 but $20 is better than the $30 I was fearing might happen.

So effectively we have to pay just for higher res graphics on games we have already paid for and likely beaten.

Couldn't they just offer it free since we are already paying for the Switch 2 itself? Or is the concern new players might pick up the older games in the bargain bin and then upgrade for free?

This was always the risk Nintendo ran with a lineup of just revamped games to fill in the gaps until a solid library of titles can be produced. Not many gamers can justify this kind of cost.

Feels like if it’s JUST spec improvements then it’s free, but if it has any added content whatsoever as well (even if it’s largely gimmicky like utilizing the camera/mouse/etc) then it’s the 10-$20 upgrade even if all you cared about was the improved specs.

Of course if Subbed then it’s “free” like the other past incentives

@TheExile285 Yup ,Totk too easy overall

It should not cost anything unless it has new content.

@Pat_trick
Guess I should have clarified that I was referring to 1st party PS4 to PS5 upgrades ala The Last of Us, Uncharted, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon, etc. 3rd party publishers can do whatever they want on both PlayStation and Nintendo.

@westman98 Ah, fair. That make sense

That seems okay. I got it wrong before thinking we had to buy an entirely new game. I have some things to finish off in TOTK despite "completing it".

@RPGenie I will be buying the Zelda upgrades because I know I'm going to play through each of them again and put another 200 hours into each, so to me its a very good deal. However, I do agree with you that with these game prices I will be definitely be buying fewer games

Even Sony had free upgrades at first... For graphically better games..

Looks like upgrades are £16.99 in the UK!!