@Lady_rosalina Yes please. I booted up Ultimate and tried playing online after not doing so for a couple years and the input lag online is unbearable. I don't know how I ever dealt with it. It's so much more responsive playing offline.
Apparently it's 6 frames of lag offline and 10 frames of lag online in ideal conditions.
Sounds like it'll be an uneven 30 FPS on Switch 1 and a locked 30 FPS on Switch 2. Disappointing.
Even if they don't have Switch 2 dev kits, all they need to do is add an option to target either 30 or 60 FPS. Make 30 FPS the default and then Switch 2 users can manually select 60 FPS. There, problem solved. Hire me, Koei Tecmo.
Rumors: "Nintendo is being very stingy with dev kits, saving them for only devs that absolutely need them for games that are not possible on Switch 1."
Random is still the same (75% chance to pick one of the 3 available options, and 25% chance to pick a random classic-style track that is not connected to the current location).
Seems like the only difference is now there is a slightly higher chance that one of the 3 available options is a classic-style track. But it's very slight. Like maybe a 10% higher chance.
Looks like we gotta go back to complaining.
If they're really worried about splitting the player base with more modes, they should just make it so that among the 3 options, there is always at least 1 classic-style track and 1 "intermission" track. Then people can always vote for whichever style they prefer. And they should also change random back to how it used to work. It's pretty lame how most of the time it now just ends up giving you one of the 3 options you could have already picked.
@Aventurier DBFZ was already a pretty good port on Switch, but Strive is even better.
The biggest improvement over DBFZ is load times. On Switch 1, DBFZ would take about 34 seconds to load into a match. But Strive on Switch 1 only takes about 9 seconds (assuming you skip the long-winded intro animation lol). It's even faster than the PS4 version of Strive, which takes about 21 seconds to load a match!
Main benefit of a Switch 2 patch would be higher resolution (like 1080p handheld and 1440p/4K docked depending on what the Switch 2 could handle) and maybe being eligible for cross platform play.
But even the current Switch 1 resolution looks solid, like it's not obviously blurry like some other Switch 1 games (though I don't know the exact resolution).
A shame it'll still be a bit of a wait, but glad they at least gave us a time frame.
They mention text fixes for certain languages, but it would also be nice if they fixed the looping videos that play to show the selected move when viewing the command list. Sometimes they freeze. And once or twice this has also resulted in a crash for me.
But a minor complaint in an otherwise extremely solid port. That said, I wouldn't say "no" to a potential Switch 2 patch!
Except in this case, they're charging $10 more specifically for the Switch 2 version, despite offering the game on a Game-Key Card. They aren't passing the savings for the Game-Key Card on to you, in fact, they're charging you more for it.
@AlanaHagues It's actually already been confirmed via retailers like Amazon and Best Buy that even the standard Switch 2 version will cost $10 more than all other versions (including PS5).
I think it would be worth updating the story to reflect this.
Also, if you are able, I think this would be a good question to ask NISA: why does the Switch 2 version cost $10 more despite releasing on a Game-Key Card?
Okay NISA, please explain how a Game-Key Card is more beneficial for me compared to a true physical release.
With GKC, I have to waste very limited storage space to fit the game on my system. If my built-in storage is full, I have to a purchase an expensive Micro SD Express card.
With GKC, I will no longer be able to redownload the game when the servers shut down in the future.
On top of that, you are not offering an upgrade path for owners of the Switch 1 version. And you are charging customers $10 for the Switch 2 version compared to all other version (even PS5!) What's the reason for these things? Is this also for my "benefit?"
Being forced to grind for in-game currency to "fix" your characters in a competitive multiplayer game is horrible design.
Imagine if in a fighting game all your characters started out with reduced stats, and you had to grind battles with an underpowered character to max out their stats before you could compete on a level playing field. Just horrible.
This also really discourages experimentation. Cause each time you wanna change something about your team, you'll have to pay V-Bucks to do it. And then if you find out your idea didn't pan out after a few matches, you'll have to pay more V-Bucks to change it back.
Looks like the unofficial Pokemon Showdown will remain the ideal way to play competitive Pokemon.
Though I'm curious: what's the source of this news? Nintendo Life cites Nintendo Everything, but they didn't cite a source. And if you look at Nintendo's official page for backwards compatibility, they haven't updated it since June 5 (at least, at the time of this post).
Did the author at Nintendo Everything just search on social media sites for people talking about fixes after the last system update? That might have been how they found out about Gunbird 2 getting fixed cause I posted about that on the shmup subreddit as well as here the day the update came out. If that's the case, it's not necessarily a comprehensive list, so there could be more games fixed that people haven't noticed yet.
It's a bit disappointing how Nintendo isn't really communicating both backwards compatibility issues and fixes very well. They seem to have abandoned their own page made for this purpose.
I also know from both personal experience and reading forums that there are many more games with backwards compatibility issues that are not listed on Nintendo's site, so it's unclear if they'll be fixed. For example, my brother is playing Ultra Age right now and it crashes basically every 10 minutes on Switch 2. And I saw on the forums here that the digital version of Klonoa crashes on boot, and in Trails from Zero you get crashes when watching videos in the video player.
Nintendo really should really have a dedicated way for users to report issues. Sure, you can tell customer service, but who knows how effective that is? Will that info make it from customer service to the devs working on the backwards compatibility?
@Spider-Kev What are the issues with Diablo II & III on Switch 2?
"Normally, I'm a glass half full kind of guy (I loved Pokemon Scarlet despite its flaws) and trolls, attention seekers and mis/disinformation doesn't really faze me, but now, with the launch of a new system from my favorite publisher, I can't help but feel less enthusiastic and even kind of worried about the Switch 2's future."
Have you ever considered the possibility that most people criticizing things about the Switch 2 are actually big fans and simply wish Nintendo would do better?
Despite the somewhat higher than expected price point of the Switch 2 (I was hoping for $400 instead of $450), I felt it was justified when we saw during the reveal how the console supported 4k docked & 1080p handheld, 120 Hz, HDR, and VRR. It felt surprisingly technically advanced for Nintendo. But then we started learning all the bad news (VRR doesn't work in docked, the screen has subpar HDR, the screen has a worse response time than even Switch 1 (50% longer), almost every 3rd party game is on a Game-Key Card, etc...), and now it feels like Nintendo over hyped and under delivered.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the Switch 2, but these are absolutely valid criticisms of the system and should be vocalized so hopefully Nintendo will feel pressure to improve these things in either firmware updates (where applicable) or a future hardware revision. If everyone just acts like everything is sunshine and rainbows, then there is no incentive for Nintendo to fix anything. Heck, they might not even realize some of these things are problems if people don't talk about them!
It's the exact same thing with the criticism towards Nintendo for the patch in Mario Kart World that made it even more difficult to play the classic 3-lap tracks online with random people. The people most vocal about this are the hardcore fans who play Mario Kart waaaaay more than the casual fans who just play single player to get gold on each Grand Prix, and then move on to something else and only come back to the game every now and then when they have friends over.
"With all the recent deductions about game key cards and digital games, I am increasingly feeling there should be a different definition between gamer and game collector like they are 2 different hobbies. There are so many comments saying 'if it's not physical I won't buy it' to me these aren't gamers who want to play and enjoy a game but are only interested in collecting, value and ownership of games."
This is classic "No True Scotsman" fallacy: "No true gamer would pass on a game just because it's released on a Game-Key Card."
I could just as easily say: "No true gamer prefers digital over physical. People who prefer digital games are just casuals who view games as disposable entertainment and don't care about actually owning and playing their favorites for the rest of their lives."
I actually like the fact that it's got a Saturn-style D-pad with a 4-button diamond layout. Not a fan of 6-button layout as it's always at an awkward angle relative to my thumb's natural resting position.
"Having played both the Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game, the latter’s graphical enhancements and load time improvements feel negligible."
Nice, so I won't be missing out on much by sticking with the true physical release on Switch 1.
Though it would have been nice to know the resolution difference in both handheld and docked. Guess we'll just have to wait for comparison videos on Youtube.
@Thomystic Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk are not "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games. They can only be played on Switch 2.
You can play a Switch 2 cartridge on Switch 1 if and only if the box says "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" (like BotW, TotK, and Rune Factory). Those cartridges include the base Switch 1 version along with the Switch 2 upgrade pack. So if you insert them into a Switch 1, you will play the Switch 1 version. But if you insert them into a Switch 2, you will play the Switch 1 version with the Switch 2 upgrade pack (as opposed to just the raw Switch 1 version).
Finally some good news regarding the Switch 2 physical situation!
Was going to skip this, but now I'll pick it up day 1 physically for Switch 2.
The fact that the physical version is delayed suggests this is a last minute pivot from Sega. They were likely originally planning to do this as a GKC or code-in-box release, but made the switch to a real cartridge after all the backlash and poor sales for their initial batch of GKCs.
I had initially given up hope on all future Sega releases, but now I'm hopeful games like Metaphor and P3 Reload will get the physical releases they deserve on Switch 2.
Looks like we might be starting turn the tides here. Keep up the fight for physical, everyone!
@YetAnotherLuna The Switch port is phenomenal, even on Switch 1. Very consistently hits 60 FPS. Snappy load times (though it's a bit slow to boot to the title screen due to the online connection stuff, but IIRC, it's like that on each platform). Visuals were translated over very well: less background animation and some reduced particle FX, but it's presented in a very solid resolution. One of the most visually beautiful games on Switch. I absolutely don't feel like I'm playing a lesser version of the game. Honestly, one of the most impressive 3rd party ports on Switch.
Only real drawbacks are that it's not up to date with the other platforms in terms of DLC characters (we're still missing Venom and Unika), and there's no crossplay, so it's a bit harder to find matches online. But I have had lots of good matches online and was able to find some people around my skill level.
@electrolite77 Nintendo did it for Zelda because Zelda is a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The only way to have an actual separate upgrade pack that requires the base Switch 1 game to function is via Nintendo Switch 2 Editions. And Nintendo does not allow games with GKC releases to have Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, and therefore, they can't have upgrade packs.
It's as simple as that. That's the rule Nintendo made. And Square Enix opted to go for the GKC over the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
@electrolite77 Certainly other devs could theoretically do what the Hogwarts devs did. But if it requires extra work on their end and it allows for exploits (like how a single Switch 1 physical copy of Hogwarts can be used to grant multiple $10 digital Switch 2 copies), many devs won't.
If they didn't use GKCs, then it would have been a totally frictionless process to make a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with a separate upgrade pack and no exploits.
But they weighed their options and came to the conclusion that a GKC release was more important than a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (with a built-in method for an upgrade path) and left it at that.
Limiting the number of bundles a game can be included in? Great, it was really annoying to see publishers spam bundles for the same game week after week for visibility.
Disallowing inaccurate descriptions? Of course, makes sense.
"Content guidelines?" This is where I become worried. We've already seen activists at NoA reject several legitimate games due to "content guidelines." Personally, as a massive shmup fan, I was really looking forward to Redneg Allstars, which NoA rejected due to "expression restrictions."
Currently, you can still import or download some of these "banned" games from Asian retailers/eShop (with English support!), but if they are going to have the same restrictions as NoA now, that's a massive loss.
I think it's absurd that Nintendo will block a shmup like Redneg Allstars just cause there's busty anime girls (with no actual nudity), and yet Cyberpunk, with full-on nudity and GENITAL CUSTOMIZATION, is considered A-OK.
Ultimately, different people have different opinions about what is "acceptable," and I don't think it should be Nintendo's job to police that. Just let ratings boards like the ESRB assign games the appropriate age rating and have decent parental controls in place.
@Ks123 @Koda1000 Just to clarify, yes, you can still play the Switch 1 version on Switch 2. Here's a little graphic from Square Enix's FAQ to illustrate:
And it will likely run a little better on Switch 2. But it will still be bound by the constraints it was programmed with for Switch 1.
For example, if it's targeting 30 FPS on Switch 1, but it drops below that in certain areas, it will likely hold 30 FPS throughout on Switch 2. But you would need the actual Switch 2 version to hit 60 FPS.
@electrolite77 The primary way Nintendo implemented the ability for devs to offer upgrades from Switch 1 to Switch 2 is via Nintendo Switch 2 Editions. However, as Marvelous has revealed, Nintendo does not allow games with GKC releases to be Nintendo Switch 2 Editions.
The idea behind a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is that it includes both the base Switch 1 game plus the upgrade pack for Switch 2 (which you can download separately in the case where you already own the Switch 1 version either physically or digitally).
The examples of you listed of Switch 1 games with Switch 2 upgrade packs available separately on the eShop (BotW, TotK, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land) are all Nintendo Switch 2 Editions (go look on the eShop and see for yourself).
Is it dumb that Nintendo doesn't allow devs to make Switch 2 upgrade packs if their game was released on a GKC? Yes, but that's the rule Nintendo made. If you don't like it, complain to Nintendo about it, which is what a lot of us have been doing.
Still waiting for them to add Venom and Unika to Strive on the Switch. I thought after Dizzy we'd be "caught up" and would get the other characters at the same time as the other platforms...
Though I'd totally forgive them if they made the rest of the DLC characters free for us (like Dizzy) as an apology for making us wait!
@electrolite77 See my previous posts. GKCs are the reasons why most NS2 games that SHOULD have upgrade packs don't have them. So you should learn to hate GKCs too.
@Thomystic This statement is also supported by all games that currently have NS2 Editions. None of them are on GKCs:
*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Super Mario Party Jamboree (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Kirby and the Forgotten Land (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Pokemon Legends Z-A (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Metroid Prime 4 (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Tamagotchi Plaza (NS2 physical: real cartridge, Japan-only)
*Shadow Labyrinth (NS2 physical: code-in-a-box, Japan-only)
*Civ VII (NS2 physical: code-in-a-box)
*Fantasy Life i (NS2 physical: real cartridge, Japan-only) Final Fantasy Tactics (NS2 physical: code-in-a-box, Japan-only)
Conversely, if you look at the NS2 games that SHOULD have been NS2 Editions, but aren't, the one thing they all have in common is they have a "physical" release on a GKC:
Sonic x Shadow Generations
*Raidou Remastered
*Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
*Suikoden I & II
*No Sleep for Kaname Date
*Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening
*Little Nightmares III
*Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D
*Disgaea 7 Complete
*The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
*Hogwart's Legacy
Hogwart's Legacy is an interesting case because they had to make a convoluted workaround to allow Switch 1 owners to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. If they were allowed to make an NS2 Edition, surely they would have done that to follow the standard procedure for upgrade packs. But it's likely they couldn't due to using a GKC for the physical release.
While it doesn't disprove the rule that NS2 Editions can't be on GKCs, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a bit of an odd case. Despite being a code-in-box on NS2, meaning they COULD have made it an NS2 Edition, they still opted not to. And because it's not an NS2 Edition, they have their own clunky way of offering an "upgrade:" if you buy the digital Switch 1 version, then you get the digital Switch 2 version for free, but it's not technically an upgrade pack, it's a totally separate game. If you buy the "physical" Switch 1 version (which has barely any data on the cartridge), there is no way to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. Though I'm not sure what happens if you buy the Switch 2 version digitally, if you go that route, you might not be entitled to a digital Switch 1 version.
I'll conclude by saying this: let it be known that GKCs are actively worse than code-in-a-box for cross-gen releases since they prevent developers from creating games as NS2 Editions to allow NS1 users to download an upgrade pack.
@Thomystic Source: Marvelous. In this interview with RPG Site they say the following when discussing their choice to put the new Rune Factory on a real cartridge as opposed to a Game-Key Card:
"There were many discussions with Marvelous Japan on how the ROM option would enable the “Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced” designation that would allow the game to be played on both the new Switch 2 as well as the original Switch hardware, and we finally had agreement that this was the most user-friendly option."
This means they wouldn't have been able to release it as a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on a GKC. Reading between the lines, some people, including myself, believe the reason for this is that Nintendo requires NS2 Editions to work on both NS1 & NS2 (all of the existing NS2 Editions behave this way), but GKCs don't work on NS1, ergo, a game with a GKC release can't be an NS2 Edition and by extension, locks itself out of the primary method developers have to offer upgrades to Switch 1 games.
Really hate how common this is. None of Sega's games have an upgrade path. Suikoden doesn't have an upgrade path. No Sleep for Kaname Date doesn't have an upgrade path. Etc...
It's really strange cause Square Enix IS offering a free upgrade for FFT, but not this. One theory I've seen to explain this is that games released on Game-Key Cards are not allowed to be Nintendo Switch 2 Editions due to Nintendo requiring that all Nintendo Switch 2 Editions work on both Switch 1 and Switch 2, but GKCs simply don't work on Switch 1. And Nintendo Switch 2 Editions are the standard way for a Switch 1 game to get a Switch 2 upgrade.
So when a publisher chooses to use a GKC, not only are they screwing us out of a real physical Switch 2 release, they are also denying us the possibility of at least downloading a Switch 2 upgrade for the physical Switch 1 version. So with FFT, we lucked out that the "physical" Switch 2 version is a code-in-a-box since that at least allows for a free Switch 2 upgrade for the real physical Switch 1 version. Because of this, code-in-box Switch 2 releases are better than GKC releases.
As for myself, for any games that have a physical Switch 1 version and a digital-only/GKC Switch 2 version with no upgrade path, I'll wait and purchase the physical Switch 1 version at a steep discount to punish the publisher for such behavior. (I would have bought at full price if there was a free Switch 2 upgrade.)
Comments 432
Re: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Recieves Another Switch 2 Update
@Lady_rosalina Yes please. I booted up Ultimate and tried playing online after not doing so for a couple years and the input lag online is unbearable. I don't know how I ever dealt with it. It's so much more responsive playing offline.
Apparently it's 6 frames of lag offline and 10 frames of lag online in ideal conditions.
Re: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Will "Average" 30fps On Switch
Sounds like it'll be an uneven 30 FPS on Switch 1 and a locked 30 FPS on Switch 2. Disappointing.
Even if they don't have Switch 2 dev kits, all they need to do is add an option to target either 30 or 60 FPS. Make 30 FPS the default and then Switch 2 users can manually select 60 FPS. There, problem solved. Hire me, Koei Tecmo.
Re: DSiWare Game 'Handy Hockey' Makes A Return On Switch 2
Rumors: "Nintendo is being very stingy with dev kits, saving them for only devs that absolutely need them for games that are not possible on Switch 1."
The games not possible on Switch 1:
Re: Fall Guys Rolls Out Frame Rate Update On Switch 2
Nice, though kinda odd they're not at least bumping up the resolution as well while they're at it.
Maybe down the line they'll do a proper Switch 2 version.
Re: Mario Kart World Has Been Updated To Version 1.2.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Looks like Nintendo is just trolling us.
Random is still the same (75% chance to pick one of the 3 available options, and 25% chance to pick a random classic-style track that is not connected to the current location).
Seems like the only difference is now there is a slightly higher chance that one of the 3 available options is a classic-style track. But it's very slight. Like maybe a 10% higher chance.
Looks like we gotta go back to complaining.
If they're really worried about splitting the player base with more modes, they should just make it so that among the 3 options, there is always at least 1 classic-style track and 1 "intermission" track. Then people can always vote for whichever style they prefer. And they should also change random back to how it used to work. It's pretty lame how most of the time it now just ends up giving you one of the 3 options you could have already picked.
Re: Guilty Gear Switch Edition Update And DLC Arriving Fall 2025
@Aventurier DBFZ was already a pretty good port on Switch, but Strive is even better.
The biggest improvement over DBFZ is load times. On Switch 1, DBFZ would take about 34 seconds to load into a match. But Strive on Switch 1 only takes about 9 seconds (assuming you skip the long-winded intro animation lol). It's even faster than the PS4 version of Strive, which takes about 21 seconds to load a match!
Main benefit of a Switch 2 patch would be higher resolution (like 1080p handheld and 1440p/4K docked depending on what the Switch 2 could handle) and maybe being eligible for cross platform play.
But even the current Switch 1 resolution looks solid, like it's not obviously blurry like some other Switch 1 games (though I don't know the exact resolution).
Re: Disgaea 7 Complete Lands Western Switch 2 Release Date
Fake physical Game-Key Card + no upgrade path = That's gonna be a "no" from me, dawg
Re: Guilty Gear Switch Edition Update And DLC Arriving Fall 2025
A shame it'll still be a bit of a wait, but glad they at least gave us a time frame.
They mention text fixes for certain languages, but it would also be nice if they fixed the looping videos that play to show the selected move when viewing the command list. Sometimes they freeze. And once or twice this has also resulted in a crash for me.
But a minor complaint in an otherwise extremely solid port. That said, I wouldn't say "no" to a potential Switch 2 patch!
Re: NIS America: Trails Beyond The Horizon Switch 2 Game-Key Card Release Is "Most Beneficial Option" For Fans
@Medic_alert @JasonLee99
Except in this case, they're charging $10 more specifically for the Switch 2 version, despite offering the game on a Game-Key Card. They aren't passing the savings for the Game-Key Card on to you, in fact, they're charging you more for it.
Re: Review: Wild Hearts S (Switch 2) - Monster Hunting That's Satisfying, If Unspectacular
Was interested in this game, but skipping because it's on a Game-Key Card. Not even going to bother with the demo.
Re: NIS America: Trails Beyond The Horizon Switch 2 Game-Key Card Release Is "Most Beneficial Option" For Fans
@AlanaHagues It's actually already been confirmed via retailers like Amazon and Best Buy that even the standard Switch 2 version will cost $10 more than all other versions (including PS5).
I think it would be worth updating the story to reflect this.
Also, if you are able, I think this would be a good question to ask NISA: why does the Switch 2 version cost $10 more despite releasing on a Game-Key Card?
Re: NIS America: Trails Beyond The Horizon Switch 2 Game-Key Card Release Is "Most Beneficial Option" For Fans
Okay NISA, please explain how a Game-Key Card is more beneficial for me compared to a true physical release.
With GKC, I have to waste very limited storage space to fit the game on my system. If my built-in storage is full, I have to a purchase an expensive Micro SD Express card.
With GKC, I will no longer be able to redownload the game when the servers shut down in the future.
On top of that, you are not offering an upgrade path for owners of the Switch 1 version. And you are charging customers $10 for the Switch 2 version compared to all other version (even PS5!) What's the reason for these things? Is this also for my "benefit?"
Re: Xbox Will Reportedly Announce "More Game Ports" For Other Platforms Soon
Not interested anymore causing knowing Microsoft and the current state of Switch 2, they'll absolutely be Game-Key Cards.
Re: Pokémon Champions Gameplay Trailer Reveals 2026 Launch Window
Being forced to grind for in-game currency to "fix" your characters in a competitive multiplayer game is horrible design.
Imagine if in a fighting game all your characters started out with reduced stats, and you had to grind battles with an underpowered character to max out their stats before you could compete on a level playing field. Just horrible.
This also really discourages experimentation. Cause each time you wanna change something about your team, you'll have to pay V-Bucks to do it. And then if you find out your idea didn't pan out after a few matches, you'll have to pay more V-Bucks to change it back.
Looks like the unofficial Pokemon Showdown will remain the ideal way to play competitive Pokemon.
Re: More Switch Games Reportedly Receive Switch 2 Compatibility Fixes
I own 9 of these, so I'm very happy.
Though I'm curious: what's the source of this news? Nintendo Life cites Nintendo Everything, but they didn't cite a source. And if you look at Nintendo's official page for backwards compatibility, they haven't updated it since June 5 (at least, at the time of this post).
Did the author at Nintendo Everything just search on social media sites for people talking about fixes after the last system update? That might have been how they found out about Gunbird 2 getting fixed cause I posted about that on the shmup subreddit as well as here the day the update came out. If that's the case, it's not necessarily a comprehensive list, so there could be more games fixed that people haven't noticed yet.
It's a bit disappointing how Nintendo isn't really communicating both backwards compatibility issues and fixes very well. They seem to have abandoned their own page made for this purpose.
I also know from both personal experience and reading forums that there are many more games with backwards compatibility issues that are not listed on Nintendo's site, so it's unclear if they'll be fixed. For example, my brother is playing Ultra Age right now and it crashes basically every 10 minutes on Switch 2. And I saw on the forums here that the digital version of Klonoa crashes on boot, and in Trails from Zero you get crashes when watching videos in the video player.
Nintendo really should really have a dedicated way for users to report issues. Sure, you can tell customer service, but who knows how effective that is? Will that info make it from customer service to the devs working on the backwards compatibility?
@Spider-Kev What are the issues with Diablo II & III on Switch 2?
Re: Mailbox: Ninty Getting Its Freak On, Area Codes, The 'Discourse' - Nintendo Life Letters
"Normally, I'm a glass half full kind of guy (I loved Pokemon Scarlet despite its flaws) and trolls, attention seekers and mis/disinformation doesn't really faze me, but now, with the launch of a new system from my favorite publisher, I can't help but feel less enthusiastic and even kind of worried about the Switch 2's future."
Have you ever considered the possibility that most people criticizing things about the Switch 2 are actually big fans and simply wish Nintendo would do better?
Despite the somewhat higher than expected price point of the Switch 2 (I was hoping for $400 instead of $450), I felt it was justified when we saw during the reveal how the console supported 4k docked & 1080p handheld, 120 Hz, HDR, and VRR. It felt surprisingly technically advanced for Nintendo. But then we started learning all the bad news (VRR doesn't work in docked, the screen has subpar HDR, the screen has a worse response time than even Switch 1 (50% longer), almost every 3rd party game is on a Game-Key Card, etc...), and now it feels like Nintendo over hyped and under delivered.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the Switch 2, but these are absolutely valid criticisms of the system and should be vocalized so hopefully Nintendo will feel pressure to improve these things in either firmware updates (where applicable) or a future hardware revision. If everyone just acts like everything is sunshine and rainbows, then there is no incentive for Nintendo to fix anything. Heck, they might not even realize some of these things are problems if people don't talk about them!
It's the exact same thing with the criticism towards Nintendo for the patch in Mario Kart World that made it even more difficult to play the classic 3-lap tracks online with random people. The people most vocal about this are the hardcore fans who play Mario Kart waaaaay more than the casual fans who just play single player to get gold on each Grand Prix, and then move on to something else and only come back to the game every now and then when they have friends over.
"With all the recent deductions about game key cards and digital games, I am increasingly feeling there should be a different definition between gamer and game collector like they are 2 different hobbies. There are so many comments saying 'if it's not physical I won't buy it' to me these aren't gamers who want to play and enjoy a game but are only interested in collecting, value and ownership of games."
This is classic "No True Scotsman" fallacy: "No true gamer would pass on a game just because it's released on a Game-Key Card."
I could just as easily say: "No true gamer prefers digital over physical. People who prefer digital games are just casuals who view games as disposable entertainment and don't care about actually owning and playing their favorites for the rest of their lives."
Re: Review: Gulikit Elves 2 Pro Controller For Switch And Switch 2 - A Small, Yet Refined Saturn Tribute
I actually like the fact that it's got a Saturn-style D-pad with a 4-button diamond layout. Not a fan of 6-button layout as it's always at an awkward angle relative to my thumb's natural resting position.
Re: Review: No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES (Switch 2) - Fun Cast, Weak Twists In This Satisfying Spin-Off
"Having played both the Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game, the latter’s graphical enhancements and load time improvements feel negligible."
Nice, so I won't be missing out on much by sticking with the true physical release on Switch 1.
Though it would have been nice to know the resolution difference in both handheld and docked. Guess we'll just have to wait for comparison videos on Youtube.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@Thomystic Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk are not "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games. They can only be played on Switch 2.
You can play a Switch 2 cartridge on Switch 1 if and only if the box says "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" (like BotW, TotK, and Rune Factory). Those cartridges include the base Switch 1 version along with the Switch 2 upgrade pack. So if you insert them into a Switch 1, you will play the Switch 1 version. But if you insert them into a Switch 2, you will play the Switch 1 version with the Switch 2 upgrade pack (as opposed to just the raw Switch 1 version).
Re: Sonic Racing: Crossworlds On Switch 2 Will Feature The Full Base Game On Cartridge
Finally some good news regarding the Switch 2 physical situation!
Was going to skip this, but now I'll pick it up day 1 physically for Switch 2.
The fact that the physical version is delayed suggests this is a last minute pivot from Sega. They were likely originally planning to do this as a GKC or code-in-box release, but made the switch to a real cartridge after all the backlash and poor sales for their initial batch of GKCs.
I had initially given up hope on all future Sega releases, but now I'm hopeful games like Metaphor and P3 Reload will get the physical releases they deserve on Switch 2.
Looks like we might be starting turn the tides here. Keep up the fight for physical, everyone!
Re: Rumour: Guilty Gear's New Game Has Been Cancelled, It's Claimed
@YetAnotherLuna The Switch port is phenomenal, even on Switch 1. Very consistently hits 60 FPS. Snappy load times (though it's a bit slow to boot to the title screen due to the online connection stuff, but IIRC, it's like that on each platform). Visuals were translated over very well: less background animation and some reduced particle FX, but it's presented in a very solid resolution. One of the most visually beautiful games on Switch. I absolutely don't feel like I'm playing a lesser version of the game. Honestly, one of the most impressive 3rd party ports on Switch.
Only real drawbacks are that it's not up to date with the other platforms in terms of DLC characters (we're still missing Venom and Unika), and there's no crossplay, so it's a bit harder to find matches online. But I have had lots of good matches online and was able to find some people around my skill level.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@electrolite77 Nintendo did it for Zelda because Zelda is a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The only way to have an actual separate upgrade pack that requires the base Switch 1 game to function is via Nintendo Switch 2 Editions. And Nintendo does not allow games with GKC releases to have Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, and therefore, they can't have upgrade packs.
It's as simple as that. That's the rule Nintendo made. And Square Enix opted to go for the GKC over the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@electrolite77 Certainly other devs could theoretically do what the Hogwarts devs did. But if it requires extra work on their end and it allows for exploits (like how a single Switch 1 physical copy of Hogwarts can be used to grant multiple $10 digital Switch 2 copies), many devs won't.
If they didn't use GKCs, then it would have been a totally frictionless process to make a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with a separate upgrade pack and no exploits.
But they weighed their options and came to the conclusion that a GKC release was more important than a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (with a built-in method for an upgrade path) and left it at that.
Re: Nintendo Has Seemingly Taken Further Steps To Combat 'eSlop' On Switch 2
Hmmm...these new rules sound like a mixed bag.
Limiting the number of bundles a game can be included in? Great, it was really annoying to see publishers spam bundles for the same game week after week for visibility.
Disallowing inaccurate descriptions? Of course, makes sense.
"Content guidelines?" This is where I become worried. We've already seen activists at NoA reject several legitimate games due to "content guidelines." Personally, as a massive shmup fan, I was really looking forward to Redneg Allstars, which NoA rejected due to "expression restrictions."
Currently, you can still import or download some of these "banned" games from Asian retailers/eShop (with English support!), but if they are going to have the same restrictions as NoA now, that's a massive loss.
I think it's absurd that Nintendo will block a shmup like Redneg Allstars just cause there's busty anime girls (with no actual nudity), and yet Cyberpunk, with full-on nudity and GENITAL CUSTOMIZATION, is considered A-OK.
Ultimately, different people have different opinions about what is "acceptable," and I don't think it should be Nintendo's job to police that. Just let ratings boards like the ESRB assign games the appropriate age rating and have decent parental controls in place.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@Ks123 @Koda1000
Just to clarify, yes, you can still play the Switch 1 version on Switch 2. Here's a little graphic from Square Enix's FAQ to illustrate:
And it will likely run a little better on Switch 2. But it will still be bound by the constraints it was programmed with for Switch 1.
For example, if it's targeting 30 FPS on Switch 1, but it drops below that in certain areas, it will likely hold 30 FPS throughout on Switch 2. But you would need the actual Switch 2 version to hit 60 FPS.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@electrolite77 The primary way Nintendo implemented the ability for devs to offer upgrades from Switch 1 to Switch 2 is via Nintendo Switch 2 Editions. However, as Marvelous has revealed, Nintendo does not allow games with GKC releases to be Nintendo Switch 2 Editions.
The idea behind a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is that it includes both the base Switch 1 game plus the upgrade pack for Switch 2 (which you can download separately in the case where you already own the Switch 1 version either physically or digitally).
The examples of you listed of Switch 1 games with Switch 2 upgrade packs available separately on the eShop (BotW, TotK, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land) are all Nintendo Switch 2 Editions (go look on the eShop and see for yourself).
Is it dumb that Nintendo doesn't allow devs to make Switch 2 upgrade packs if their game was released on a GKC? Yes, but that's the rule Nintendo made. If you don't like it, complain to Nintendo about it, which is what a lot of us have been doing.
Re: Rumour: Guilty Gear's New Game Has Been Cancelled, It's Claimed
Still waiting for them to add Venom and Unika to Strive on the Switch. I thought after Dizzy we'd be "caught up" and would get the other characters at the same time as the other platforms...
Though I'd totally forgive them if they made the rest of the DLC characters free for us (like Dizzy) as an apology for making us wait!
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@electrolite77 See my previous posts. GKCs are the reasons why most NS2 games that SHOULD have upgrade packs don't have them. So you should learn to hate GKCs too.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@Thomystic This statement is also supported by all games that currently have NS2 Editions. None of them are on GKCs:
*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Super Mario Party Jamboree (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Kirby and the Forgotten Land (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Pokemon Legends Z-A (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Metroid Prime 4 (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (NS2 physical: real cartridge)
*Tamagotchi Plaza (NS2 physical: real cartridge, Japan-only)
*Shadow Labyrinth (NS2 physical: code-in-a-box, Japan-only)
*Civ VII (NS2 physical: code-in-a-box)
*Fantasy Life i (NS2 physical: real cartridge, Japan-only)
Final Fantasy Tactics (NS2 physical: code-in-a-box, Japan-only)
Conversely, if you look at the NS2 games that SHOULD have been NS2 Editions, but aren't, the one thing they all have in common is they have a "physical" release on a GKC:
Sonic x Shadow Generations
*Raidou Remastered
*Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
*Suikoden I & II
*No Sleep for Kaname Date
*Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening
*Little Nightmares III
*Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D
*Disgaea 7 Complete
*The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
*Hogwart's Legacy
Hogwart's Legacy is an interesting case because they had to make a convoluted workaround to allow Switch 1 owners to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. If they were allowed to make an NS2 Edition, surely they would have done that to follow the standard procedure for upgrade packs. But it's likely they couldn't due to using a GKC for the physical release.
While it doesn't disprove the rule that NS2 Editions can't be on GKCs, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a bit of an odd case. Despite being a code-in-box on NS2, meaning they COULD have made it an NS2 Edition, they still opted not to. And because it's not an NS2 Edition, they have their own clunky way of offering an "upgrade:" if you buy the digital Switch 1 version, then you get the digital Switch 2 version for free, but it's not technically an upgrade pack, it's a totally separate game. If you buy the "physical" Switch 1 version (which has barely any data on the cartridge), there is no way to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. Though I'm not sure what happens if you buy the Switch 2 version digitally, if you go that route, you might not be entitled to a digital Switch 1 version.
I'll conclude by saying this: let it be known that GKCs are actively worse than code-in-a-box for cross-gen releases since they prevent developers from creating games as NS2 Editions to allow NS1 users to download an upgrade pack.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
@Thomystic Source: Marvelous. In this interview with RPG Site they say the following when discussing their choice to put the new Rune Factory on a real cartridge as opposed to a Game-Key Card:
"There were many discussions with Marvelous Japan on how the ROM option would enable the “Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced” designation that would allow the game to be played on both the new Switch 2 as well as the original Switch hardware, and we finally had agreement that this was the most user-friendly option."
This means they wouldn't have been able to release it as a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on a GKC. Reading between the lines, some people, including myself, believe the reason for this is that Nintendo requires NS2 Editions to work on both NS1 & NS2 (all of the existing NS2 Editions behave this way), but GKCs don't work on NS1, ergo, a game with a GKC release can't be an NS2 Edition and by extension, locks itself out of the primary method developers have to offer upgrades to Switch 1 games.
Re: Square Enix Rules Out Switch 2 "Upgrade Path" For Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Really hate how common this is. None of Sega's games have an upgrade path. Suikoden doesn't have an upgrade path. No Sleep for Kaname Date doesn't have an upgrade path. Etc...
It's really strange cause Square Enix IS offering a free upgrade for FFT, but not this. One theory I've seen to explain this is that games released on Game-Key Cards are not allowed to be Nintendo Switch 2 Editions due to Nintendo requiring that all Nintendo Switch 2 Editions work on both Switch 1 and Switch 2, but GKCs simply don't work on Switch 1. And Nintendo Switch 2 Editions are the standard way for a Switch 1 game to get a Switch 2 upgrade.
So when a publisher chooses to use a GKC, not only are they screwing us out of a real physical Switch 2 release, they are also denying us the possibility of at least downloading a Switch 2 upgrade for the physical Switch 1 version. So with FFT, we lucked out that the "physical" Switch 2 version is a code-in-a-box since that at least allows for a free Switch 2 upgrade for the real physical Switch 1 version. Because of this, code-in-box Switch 2 releases are better than GKC releases.
As for myself, for any games that have a physical Switch 1 version and a digital-only/GKC Switch 2 version with no upgrade path, I'll wait and purchase the physical Switch 1 version at a steep discount to punish the publisher for such behavior. (I would have bought at full price if there was a free Switch 2 upgrade.)
Re: Nintendo Switch 2 System Update 20.2.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
I confirmed that this update fixes a bug with transparency rendering in Gunbird 2!
If anyone has experienced a backwards compatibility bug in the past, I recommend testing again with the new firmware to see if it's fixed!